Essential Research: bushfires, climate change and asylum seekers

A new poll finds respondents clearly of the view that not enough is being done to tackle climate change, but with opinion divided as to whether it appropriate to debate the matter in the context of the bushfire emergency.

The Essential Research poll series continues to chug along on its fortnightly schedule without offering anything on voting intention, with this week’s survey mainly relating to bushfires and climate change. Support for the proposition that Australia is not doing enough to address climate change have reached a new high of 60%, up nine since March, with “doing enough” down five to 22% and “doing too much” down three to 8%.

However, perceptions of climate change itself are little changed, with 61% attributing it to human activity (down one) and 28% opting for “a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate”. On the debate as to whether it was appropriate to raise links between climate change and bushfires, opinion was evenly divided – out of those who considered such a link likely, 43% felt raising the matter appropriate compared with 17% for inappropriate, while another 30% rated the link as unlikely.

A further question related to the issue of medical evacuations for asylum seekers, and here the situation is murkier due to the need to provide respondents with some sort of explanation of what the issue is about. As the Essential survey put it, the relevant legislation allows “doctors, not politicians, more say in determining the appropriate medical
treatment offered to people in offshore detention”. Put like that, 62% were opposed to the government’s move to repeal it, including 25% who believed the legislation didn’t go far enough. That left only 22% in favour of the pro-government proposition that “legislation will weaken our borders and result in boats arriving”.

The poll was conducted Thursday to Sunday from a sample of 1083.

Author: William Bowe

William Bowe is a Perth-based election analyst and occasional teacher of political science. His blog, The Poll Bludger, has existed in one form or another since 2004, and is one of the most heavily trafficked websites on Australian politics.

1,314 comments on “Essential Research: bushfires, climate change and asylum seekers”

Comments Page 7 of 27
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  1. Tristo @ #275 Wednesday, November 27th, 2019 – 3:59 pm

    @frednk

    The Greens opposed the Rudd government’s Carbon Trading Emissions scheme. Because they argued it was too generous to polluters and would achieve little in greenhouse emissions. While the Greens agreed to the Carbon Tax which the Gillard government implemented.

    By European standards, the Australian Greens would be considered a center to center-left party, with both Liberal and Social Democratic elements. While the LNP would be considered a right-wing if not far-right party much like Fidsez in Hungary, The Forum for Democracy in the Netherlands, Vox in Spain and Law and Justice in Poland. Given that Tony Abbott was in Hungary recently, praising Viktor Orban, that is not an unreasonable comparison to make. This is a testament to how much far-right wing lunacy has become mainstream in our political discourse.

    The way Labor partisans carry on about the CPRS, they seem to think it was better policy than the Clean Energy Package laws.

  2. “ He is being used as an Coalition excuse to ATTACK the UNIONS, anyone with half a brain can see that!.‘

    I am not a nope about these tactics, but frankly NO excuse – no cover – should have been given to either the government or Lambie. Setka should have stepped down. It’s that simple.

  3. Ho Hum, I have posted the current dire climate situation many times here and it seems the same old crew just don’t get it!
    Just to recap on previous posts, we have past the point of no return, we were warned for the last 30+ years (prior to 1988). In a nutshell we have passed 2°C in banked global warming due to the political ineptitude of past governments here and around the world.
    In summary we are already 1°C above pre-industrial era, we have a 0.6°C built in lag to come and if our pathetic race ever ends its selfish addiction to coal and other FF then lock in 0.5°C-1.1°C from the sulphate removal in the atmosphere so conservatively 2.1°C minimum locked in. Any sensible leader (or party) would be in a wartime effort to bring the community into gear and pull out all the stops, regardless of the “economic impacts”.
    The Greens policy does not go far enough, no policy does, the only one that stands a chance of having any impact are carbon neutral now and negative ASAP.

  4. P1 @4:38.
    Well I’d vote for that but it’s not me a Labor Opposition need to convince.
    About 60% want action but only 10% if that are prepared to bear any cost, and each of those policies will be misrepresented by the Government and their media allies as being prohibitively expensive. Labor has to persuade 51% in the face of all the crap that will be trown at it. It has to go for waht is possible and campaign for it. What’s possible? That’s a matter for judgement.

    “Then once you are in government you could start on the hard stuff.” Absolutely. Maybe some items on the list are among the hard stuff.

  5. “ The way Labor partisans carry on about the CPRS, they seem to think it was better policy than the Clean Energy Package laws.”

    Nope point missed. The CRPS was better politics – best able to find that sweet spot that was acceptable to those punters who actually determine elections. As a policy is was effective enough to send a price signal, provide stability and also the platform to pivot to the European trading scheme by about 2015.

    As for policy, the Gillard carbon pricing scheme was better. It was just the worst piece of politics, ever. The legacy of that Gillard-Greens “surprise” is that the electorate is totally polarised and all forms of progressive environmental protections are at risk. Anything to do with “the Greens” is now repellant to folk who live in those key electorates. ScoMo can’t believe his luck.

  6. Steve777 @ #304 Wednesday, November 27th, 2019 – 4:51 pm

    P1 @4:38.
    Well I’d vote for that but it’s not me a Labor Opposition need to convince.
    About 60% want action but only 10% if that are prepared to bear any cost, and each of those policies will be misrepresented by the Government and their media allies as being prohibitively expensive. Labor has to persuade 51% in the face of all the crap that will be trown at it. It has to go for waht is possible and campaign for it. What’s possible? That’s a matter for judgement.

    “Then once you are in government you could start on the hard stuff.” Absolutely. Maybe some items on the list are among the hard stuff.

    A shame Labor don’t have anywhere near enough of a talent pool to draw from to successfully sell proper climate change policies.

  7. The CRPS was better politics

    It was desperate politics from inept politicians who didn’t have the talent to sell a proper climate policy.

  8. Just a few little facts for those with their heads in the sand….
    1. Did you know that aviation, shipping and transportation emissions are not “counted” in reduction commitments (and many other critical calculations for that matter)
    2. Did you know that the final models utilised for basing our commitments on from the IPCC are economic and not scientific? They all have huge amount of “assumed” carbon capture factored in, based on as yet, non-existent technology.
    3. Did you know that the “assumed” amount of carbon capture into the future is more than the equivalent of planting a forest larger than the size of India each year?

    Wake up people a comet is about to hit the Earth and you are debating on whether to shoot at it with a sling shot or a shot gun.
    We have had over 30 years of utter neglect from both the major party’s in this country and you are point scoring over who is better…… F##k me….

  9. Rex Douglas

    I blame that scummy pair Robb and Minchin. Arranging for Truffles to be knocked off and installing Abbott so as to stop the then seemingly imminent CPRS agreement between Rudd and Truffles.

    I wonder how well those two were rewarded for their treachery ? At the least a signed copy of Gina’s book of poetry 🙂

  10. Yeah Im not sure why Labor failed to highlight the revolving door Lib PM situation during the election. Makes you question their political judgement.

  11. poroti says:
    Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at 4:45 pm
    doyley

    Federal Court today finds robodebt illegal.

    Interesting to see how the government reacts.
    Take your pick

    1) Ignore it
    2) Deny the court found it illegal and the ruling has been misinterpreted.
    3) Declare it a mere technical issue and they will act swiftly to close this ‘loophole’ used by those welfare bludgers.
    4) Not the time to talk about it
    5) Declare the court was wrong.

    ______________________________________

    None of the above. It was an order by consent. In doing so, the government has basically conceded that the aspect of robodebt based on comparing averaged annual income against specific fortnightly benefits payments was illegal.

    This is a scandal bigger than anything any of the banks did. I’m sure the Nine and News empires will give it a free pass though.

  12. lefty e says:
    Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at 5:10 pm
    Yeah Im not sure why Labor failed to highlight the revolving door Lib PM situation during the election. Makes you question their political judgement.

    __________________________

    It’s the one thing that the internal report did not comment on. I suppose they couldn’t say that it was a terrible mistake to assume the voters would see the bleeding obvious and that there was no need to lay it on with a trowel. I bet, though, they won’t make that mistake again.

  13. poroti @ #314 Wednesday, November 27th, 2019 – 5:08 pm

    Rex Douglas

    I blame that scummy pair Robb and Minchin. Arranging for Truffles to be knocked off and installing Abbott so as to stop the then seemingly imminent CPRS agreement between Rudd and Truffles.

    I wonder how well those two were rewarded for their treachery ? At the least a signed copy of Gina’s book of poetry 🙂

    Rudd fell apart at the seams.

    A proper leader would have gone to a DD with a proper climate policy and won a majority.

  14. RI says:
    Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at 5:12 pm
    In Rexology, Labor is to blame for Morrison’s misconduct. In Rexology, Labor can be blamed for everything.

    _______________________________

    But Labour can’t be blamed for antisemitism in its ranks, according to Rex. All antisemitism magically morphs into ‘ but it was a comment on the terrible zionists in Israel’. Just like Netanyahu claims that every attack on Israel is an attack on Jewish people, Corbyn is happy to consider that every attack on Jewish people is an attack on anti-semitism (at least if done by the people who have propped up his increasingly useless and pointless leadership).

  15. “I’m sure the Nine and News empires will give it a free pass though.”

    Yep. There’s another dimension in which the Australian media didn’t provide naked wind assistance and cover to the useless bunch of corrupt authoritarian plonkers known as the Federal LNP.

    In that dimension they haven’t won an election since 2013.

  16. jeff @ #311 Wednesday, November 27th, 2019 – 5:01 pm

    We have had over 30 years of utter neglect from both the major party’s in this country and you are point scoring over who is better…… F##k me….

    Agree with all your points, Jeff. However, I think it is also necessary to specifically rebut the idiocy promulgated here, point by point, every time. The deniers-in-deed will never give up. We should not either.

    When you still have people who claim they “accept the science” but also claim that opening new coal mines is a really neat idea, you know we still have a loooonnnngggg way to go 🙁

  17. Tristo says:
    Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at 3:29 pm

    The main reason why this nation has not had any meaningful action on Greenhouse emissions, is namely that a lot of our politicians (LNP, Labor and even smaller parties such as One Nation) are in the pockets of the fossil fuels industry. Not to mention some LNP and One Nation politicians are denial about Global Heating as well, which is promoted by sections of our media, including News Corporation and Macquarie Media.

    This is just wrong. The reason the LNP have promoted a denialist position is because it’s politically successful for them. They have been winning the political contest in this arena. They are very likely to go on winning the politics of global heating.


  18. Rex Douglas says:
    Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at 4:58 pm

    The CRPS was better politics

    It was desperate politics from inept politicians who didn’t have the talent to sell a proper climate policy.

    And the Greens stopped a political solution and they have done so much better since ?

    The damage done to the environment and their inept politics, an ineptness they continue to display is uncountable.

  19. Corbyn’s opponents are shamelessly confecting an anti-semitism crisis in an effort to discredit Corbyn. When you look at what has actually happened, a few hundred people in an organization of half a million have been accused of making anti-semitic speech acts that did not result in any harmful actions against Jewish people. Those incidents are being investigated, and some people have been expelled from the party as a consequence. The amount of time that the centrist and right-wing media have devoted to this issue is far out of proportion to the scale and severity of the problem. Corbyn’s opponents know what they are doing. They aren’t protecting Jewish people. They are aiming to undermine Corbyn.

  20. TPOF

    Thanks for the “explainer” . After years of flat out denying there was anything wrong it is a surprise they admit being ‘crooks’ . Yes it will be a bummer that the people behind it will not receive the public ‘tarring and feathering’ in the press that they richly deserve.


  21. Rex Douglas says:
    Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at 5:02 pm

    Good on Corbyn for not capitulating to the shameful weaponisation of anti-semitism.

    If the polls are right ( and granted there is a lesson to be had in making that assumption) Corbyn is going to be remember for the virtual destruction of the Labour party and little else.

  22. RI @ #324 Wednesday, November 27th, 2019 – 5:18 pm

    Tristo says:
    Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at 3:29 pm

    The main reason why this nation has not had any meaningful action on Greenhouse emissions, is namely that a lot of our politicians (LNP, Labor and even smaller parties such as One Nation) are in the pockets of the fossil fuels industry. Not to mention some LNP and One Nation politicians are denial about Global Heating as well, which is promoted by sections of our media, including News Corporation and Macquarie Media.

    This is just wrong. The reason the LNP have promoted a denialist position is because it’s politically successful for them. They have been winning the political contest in this arena. They are very likely to go on winning the politics of global heating.

    It may be politically successful in the short term but any decent politician would see it as a definite losing position in the long term and be strong in promoting a proper climate policy.

  23. TPOF says:
    Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at 5:15 pm

    I agree entirely, TPOF.

    In Rexology, if Labour lose in the UK, it will be in part because Jewish voters used anti-semitism as a “weapon”. That is to say, in Rexology, it is not permissible for Jews to complain of anti-semitism. This is implicitly anti-semitic in itself. The Rexologist is promulgating an anti-semitic trope…and not for the first time, either.

  24. frednk @ #329 Wednesday, November 27th, 2019 – 5:22 pm


    Rex Douglas says:
    Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at 5:02 pm

    Good on Corbyn for not capitulating to the shameful weaponisation of anti-semitism.

    If the polls are right ( and granted there is a lesson to be had in making that assumption) Corbyn is going to be remember for the virtual destruction of the Labour party and little else.

    C’mon , a bit of credit to the likes of Tom Watson and Ian Austin for destroying Corbyn …?

  25. RI @ #331 Wednesday, November 27th, 2019 – 5:23 pm

    TPOF says:
    Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at 5:15 pm

    I agree entirely, TPOF.

    In Rexology, if Labour lose in the UK, it will be in part because Jewish voters used anti-semitism as a “weapon”. That is to say, in Rexology, it is not permissible for Jews to complain of anti-semitism. This is implicitly anti-semitic in itself. The Rexologist is promulgating an anti-semitic trope…and not for the first time, either.

    Labour WILL lose because the centrist Blairites would prefer Boris before Corbyn. It’s that simple.

  26. Now well know is the fact that chemical restraints in the form of antipsychotic medication is being used in Aged Care Facilities.

    The correct use of these major tranquilizers is to have the general population sedated to a level of near Zombie blank eyed catatonia (currently at defcon 3)

    .

    I understand that a program to implement the above is being conducted via chemtrails aerial spraying of Xanax. The program awaits the arrival of the latest Military Drones to assist in the spraying.

    I implore William de Bowe Grand Knight Commander of the Order of the Polish Bludgers to assist by implementing a program whereby all posters to this august online journal must provide a certificate to provide proof of use of above items (plus, of course, the obligatory Certificate of Sanity). See below for trial certificate.

  27. Secret business: Labor government blanks out public’s right to know

    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/secret-business-labor-government-blanks-out-public-s-right-to-know-20191127-p53eoe.html

    The Andrews government is under fire after it published the business case for its flagship level crossing removals program with all but one of the 284 pages blanked out.
    :::
    The redacted document was produced in accordance with an order made by State Parliament’s upper house, which voted in February that the government should make public a trove of papers on the proposed removal of the level crossing at Toorak Road in Kooyong.
    :::
    But the government decided it was in the public interest to publish a document that was outside the scope of the upper house’s request, that detailed the overwhelming public support for the project among eastern suburbs locals.

  28. jeff says:
    Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at 5:01 pm
    ..

    Jeff all you say is true, sea level rise, locked in. Rise in sea acidity, locked in. Large changes in weather patterns, locked in.

    As to the warning, when I did my first tertiary course and that was in the late 70’s now over 47 years ago we were talking about it. Fox glacier in new Zealand was on the move, backwards, then.

    In my view it is no longer about stopping it, it is about riding the revolution, it going to happen and it is going to accelerate, the locked in changes are going to see to that. Even for the liberals the road to Damascus moment must come; it will be when they start socializing the loses no doubt.

    There is a way a out, it is all about renewables.
    We can convert our transport system so it no longer needs fossil fuels.
    We can move to electricity for heating, in fact it will help balance the network.
    We can run an electricity network on renewables.

    We just have to make it happen, the parties and the people I have respect for are those that are working towards having people accept the revolution is happening and working towards making it happen.

    You have to start, in our little corner the Greens blocked that start, in reality the second Labor try in which the Greens were nothing more than bit plays was another start.

    The Greens adani,adani adani chant blocked another start, the longer it goes the harder it will be to ride the revolution. There will be losers and winners as there always is in revolutions.

  29. KayJay

    Regarding the Certificate of Sanity. Will it be OK to share a certificate ? I ask in case Bludgers need to pool their sanities to obtain enough sanity for a complete one.


  30. Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at 5:32 pm

    PeeBee @ #333 Wednesday, November 27th, 2019 – 5:28 pm

    ‘environment killers.’ = The Greens

    The only period that the Greens had some legislative power, emissions went down.

    The greens have never been more than bit players. In most cases they have used there little bit to destroy.

  31. Mental health, climate change most important issues facing Australia, say young Territorians

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-27/nt-youth-survey-mental-health-climate-change/11741574

    They think the environment is important, they’re concerned about stress, and they feel like people aren’t listening to them.

    The top three issues facing Australia, as identified by 25,000 survey respondents between the ages of 15 and 19, were mental health, the environment, and equity and discrimination.
    :::
    While it only made second place in the survey, the number of people who said the environment was a key national issue more than tripled from 9.2 per cent to 34.2 per cent in just one year.

    The Northern Territory recorded similar numbers, going from 10.3 per cent to 27.3 per cent.
    :::
    The survey also found that more than half of participants felt they never had a say in public affairs issues, and Mr Soler thinks this could be linked to the increased interest in the environment.

    “I think that really tells us that there’s a story there that young people haven’t been heard and don’t feel like they’re being heard, but they’re now ready to speak up about these issues,” he said.

  32. Greens motion re Robodebt in the Senate passed

    The Senate has today passed a Greens motion for an order for the production of documents that the government provide the legal advice relating to the decision to stop relying on income averaging under the income compliance program.

    “Legal professional privilege is not a recognised ground for refusing to provide information to the Senate,” said Australian Greens spokesperson on family and community services, senator Rachel Siewert.

    “The federal court finding today shows just why this information needs to be made available. The parliament and the community need to know what is the legal status of this program. Many of us suspect there is no basis for the government to issue these debt notices.

    “The government need to front up and take responsibility for what they have done.”


  33. Rex Douglas says:
    Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at 5:26 pm

    C’mon , a bit of credit to the likes of Tom Watson and Ian Austin for destroying Corbyn …?

    You think, I give Corbyn full credit, there were some that tried to stop it, but they failed.

  34. fradnk @ #340 Wednesday, November 27th, 2019 – 5:46 pm

    The Greens adani,adani adani chant blocked another start, the longer it goes the harder it will be to ride the revolution. There will be losers and winners as there always is in revolutions.

    You know … you almost fooled me there for a minute …. but then you just couldn’t hold the line, could you?

    New coal mines are not the answer. They are not part of the answer. They are, in fact, the antithesis of the answer 🙁

  35. poroti @ #341 Wednesday, November 27th, 2019 – 5:48 pm

    KayJay

    Regarding the Certificate of Sanity. Will it be OK to share a certificate ? I ask in case Bludgers need to pool their sanities to obtain enough sanity for a complete one.

    Cripes, as the actress said to the Bishop “that’s a hard one”.

    Offhand I guess that would be OK although I suspect that the Gummints privatizing of Sanity Certificate Issuance will see a flood of counterfeits. Maybe a note from the lady next door would help. I am busy trying to get Brown Bear to sign my certificate (unsuccessfully so far).

  36. New coal mines are not the answer. They are not part of the answer.

    You’re right. They are not part of the answer.

    But that’s because new coal mines are irrelevant. Allowing a new coal mine to open or forcing a coal mine to close is not going to change the amount of coal burnt. And it’s the amount burnt that matters.

    Fiddling on the supply side is not going to have any material impact on the amount of coal burnt.

    It’s a distraction.

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