Aussies want polluters to pay for climate crisis, poll finds   :)

Australians want wealthy polluters to help pay for the impact of climate damage, new research shows.   :)
September 13 2023
New Daily

Australians are worried about the mounting costs of climate change and overwhelmingly want fossil fuel industries to pay for it, new research has found.

Some 74 per cent of Australians support a pollution tax, 66 per cent back a windfall profits tax on the oil and gas industry, and 59 per cent support a tax on fossil fuel exports, according to the Australia Institute’s Climate of the Nation report released on Tuesday.

“Australians want those who are profiting from the climate crisis to pay for the damage they are causing,” said Polly Hemming, climate and energy program director at the Australia Institute.

“While Australians are contending with record price and interest rate increases, fossil fuel companies are enjoying record profits – including $140 billion on LNG and coal exports in 2023 alone.

“And these are some of the same companies paying little or no company tax.”

Taxing times
When it comes to shouldering the financial burden of climate change, 45 per cent of respondents believe that fossil fuel producers should pay for the response costs – only 12 per cent think the government should.

Previous governments’ efforts to claim a larger share of mining rents through taxation have met fierce campaigns from the industry.

But the polling shows a disparity between public perceptions of the economic role of fossil fuel industries and the reality.

Australians also significantly overestimate the economic role of fossil fuel industries.

They believe the gas and oil industry accounts for 10.4 per cent of total employment and 12.4 per cent of GDP. The actual figures are 0.2 per cent and about 2.5 per cent.

And the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax, which many believe contributes 12 per cent to the federal budget, actually accounts for just 0.4 per cent.

Changes announced in this year’s budget to bring in an extra $2.4 billion in taxes over four years from offshore gas companies were condemned as watered down.

“Our climate and earth systems are breaking down at an even faster rate than scientists had feared, meaning we need to accelerate action, yet the major parties continue to drag their feet,” said ACT independent Senator David Pocock, who will launch the report.

Nearly half of Australians (47 per cent) believe the Australian government is not doing enough to prepare for climate change.

Federal and state governments in Australia are still allocating $11.1 billion annually to subsidise fossil fuels, according to a tally by the think tank.

Political climate change
But Australians are also worried about climate change’s immediate impacts, including to the rising cost of living.

Australians’ top concerns include droughts and floods affecting agriculture (80 per cent), climate-induced hikes in insurance premiums (79 per cent) and disruption to essential supplies (75 per cent).

The report comes as the International Energy Agency projected the consumption of significant fossil fuels to begin declining within the decade.

In the Financial Times on Tuesday, IEA head Fatih Birol hailed a “historic turning point” driven by growth in renewable energy and demand for electric vehicles.

But he called on policy makers to do more to speed up the energy transition and reduce emissions despite growing political obstacles.

The Climate of the Nation report is an ongoing benchmark of public opinion on climate change.

This year’s data was gathered through YouGov Galaxy’s Online Omnibus between June 16 and 23, from a sample of 2089 Australians.

I'm worried about power blackouts this summer.

They blew up the coal fired power stations but
we don't have enough renewables to take their place.

There is no climate crisis.

Frank wrote on Sep 13^th, 2023 at 9:17am:

There is no climate crisis.

Exactly. By conflating pollution with a manufactured 'climate crisis' the cultists are ensuring that the real issues go unaddressed while the climate scam makes trillions for its creators. 

You Pollute. You Pay.

For once I agree with WhiteyKnighty on this.

Jasin wrote on Sep 13^th, 2023 at 12:43pm:

You Pollute. You Pay.

So that applies to all who consume fossil fuels. Motorists, nylon clothing manufacturers, Shopkeepers etc etc.

The oil and gas industry supports all workers who rely on fossil fuels, not just the direct oil and gas workers. ::)

No. Those who 'produce' products that pollute, in order to gain $$$ should only be taxed.
If your 'process' of producing your product is deemed to pollute - then you pay.

I'm sure polluting Corps, Businesses, etc - will put their prices up to cover their 'pollution tax', which leaves it in the hands of consumers to purchase their 'expensive' products.

You pollute - you pay for it.

Jasin wrote on Sep 13^th, 2023 at 7:26pm:

No. Those who 'produce' products that pollute, in order to gain $$$ should only be taxed. If your 'process' of producing your product is deemed to pollute - then you pay. I'm sure polluting Corps, Businesses, etc - will put their prices up to cover their 'pollution tax', which leaves it in the hands of consumers to purchase their 'expensive' products. You pollute - you pay for it.

Meanwhile China builds a new coal fired power station every week
and they pay no pollution tax.  Go figure?

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F_ZA5BpWoAEaz92?.jpg