Conservative electorates back a switch to 100% renewables by 2030 and a global moratorium on new coal mines, according to new ReachTEL polling commissioned by The Australia Institute.

A moratorium on new coal mines is backed by voters in heartland conservative Liberal and National party seats.

“Proposals to control the expansion of coal mining were once assumed to be radical propositions, but we now know that a moratorium on new mines is a mainstream idea. Unlike many of our politicians it now seems that voters instinctively know that building massive new coal mines doesn’t make economic or environmental sense,” Ben Oquist, Executive Director of The Australia Institute said.

“Similarly with renewable energy, the electorate is ahead of its politicians in knowing that Australia can be powered by 100% renewable energy over the next 15 years.

“Renewable energy is popular across the political spectrum. Part of Tony Abbott’s undoing was that he placed himself at odds with the electorate on this issue.  These results show politicians of any hue who undermine support for a 100% renewable future risk an electoral backlash.

“Building large new coal mines in a declining market is a recipe for economic disaster. Switching to 100% renewable energy is going to lead to cheaper, safer electricity and a clean energy jobs boom,” said Ben Oquist.