Polling has revealed that climate change and rising power bills are growing concerns in regional Australia, with country communities worried about increasing instances of bushfires, heatwaves, and floods.
Carried out by 89 Degrees East, the poll surveyed 1,965 residents across Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, and found that country communities consistently blame energy companies for high bills, with support for clean energy now very strong.
The results revealed that 63% of residents living in regional Renewable Energy Zones support the shift to clean energy, whereas just 17% oppose the transition.
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Farmers for Climate Action (FCA) CEO Verity Morgan-Schmidt said it was crucial that regional communities’ voices were heard and acted on.
“Some 32% of regional people polled are more concerned about climate change than they were a year ago. Those polled say their concern is driven by bushfires, heatwaves and floods,” Morgan-Schmidt said.
“Energy company profiteering was blamed as the main driver of high energy bills (50% of those polled). Others named coal breakdowns and international events as causes for high energy bills; just 16% thought clean energy was responsible.
“Solar is seen as the ‘significant energy source’ of the future, named by 67% of REZ residents, followed by onshore wind (43%), offshore wind (41%) and pumped hydro (39%). Coal and gas trail at 29% each, with nuclear last at 24%.”
Macka’s pastoral director Robert Mackenzie said as a farmer in the Hunter Valley, his focus was simple: run a more efficient and resilient business.
“We’re improving soil health, animal performance and energy use, with a clear focus on reducing our footprint, delivering benefits for both the business and the environment. For us, sustainability isn’t a statement, it’s just good farm management,” Mackenzie said.
Morgan-Schmidt said polls show support for coal, gas, and nuclear was particularly low in the Hunter, Illawarra, and Gippsland regions.
“In the Hunter, coal was seen as a significant future energy source by 30%, gas by 25%, and nuclear by 22%. In the Illawarra: coal 25%, gas 28%, nuclear 26%. In Gippsland: gas 31%, coal 28%, nuclear 24%,” she said.
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“In Central Queensland, solar support is especially strong at 68%, while nuclear is the least supported energy generation source at 25%.
“The data showed a striking gap between real and perceived support for clean energy in the regions. Many who support the shift to clean energy do not realise they are part of the quiet majority. Media and social media algorithms will continue to promote conflict, and FCA will continue to listen to farmers, not Facebook.”
