“More than any other state, Tasmanians live in and on the edges of the bush,” said Leanne Minshull, Director of the Australia Institute Tasmania.

“As the severity of fires increase, so does the impact on our homes, our communities and our economy, we need to look at this problem holistically to have any chance of dealing with it.”

“Our research shows us that there is a lack of understanding in the community when it comes to undisturbed forests and fires. The science shows us that undisturbed rainforest assists in slowing down the spread of bushfires.

“However, only 35% of those polled agreed that forests that have never been logged assist in limiting bushfires.”

Key Findings:

Australians are roughly evenly divided between those who think that having more forests that have been logged reduces bushfire severity, those who think having more forests that have never been logged reduces bushfire severity and those who don’t know. 

• One in three Australians (35%) think having more forests that have never been logged is better for limiting the severity of bushfires.
• Meanwhile 29% of Australians 29% thought having more forests that have been logged is better for limiting the severity of bushfires.
• By voting intention, only Coalition voters think that it is better to have forests that have been logged (37%) than not logged (30%).
  • Half of Greens voters (51%) think it is better to have forests that have not been logged, the highest result for any voting intention.