Previously unreleased polling shows that almost three quarters of the federal electorate of New England support Australia gradually transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2030. In comparison, the Shenhua coal mine is rejected by a majority of National Party voters and almost two thirds of voters overall.

Dan Cass, strategist at The Australia Institute, said, “There is massive support for renewable energy right across the political spectrum in New England, while coal is politically toxic.”

“Almost three quarters (72%) of people in New England support renewables, while only 26% support the proposed vast Shenhua coal mine.

“A majority of National Party voters oppose Shenhua, while two thirds (67%) support a policy of 100% renewable energy.

“The polling indicates that there the community backs renewables not coal and that will encourage all candidates to support the inevitable switch to clean energy,” said Mr Cass.

The two polls were conducted by ReachTEL for The Australia Institute as part of research into attitudes towards coal and renewables projects and economic issues; the most recent poll was conducted on the evening of 10 March 2016, the previous poll on the evening of December 17, 2015.

Support for 100% renewable energy among New England voters

Question: Do you support or oppose Australia gradually transitioning to 100 per cent renewable energy by the year 2030?

Source: Conducted by ReachTEL for The Australia Institute. Sample 747 residents of the federal electorate of New England. Evening of 17 December 2015. 

Views towards Shenhua coal mine among New England voters

Question: Do you support or oppose the proposed Shenhua coal mine on the Liverpool Plains?

Source: Conducted by ReachTEL for The Australia Institute. Sample 662 residents of the federal electorate of New England. Evening of 10 March 2016.