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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/12/most-australians-want-government-to-regulate-power-prices-guardian-essential-poll
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| Most Australians want government to regulate power prices – Guardian Essential poll | Most Australians want government to regulate power prices – Guardian Essential poll |
| (5 days later) | |
| A clear majority of Australian voters want governments to step in and regulate electricity and gas prices and also boost investment in renewable energy, according to the latest Guardian Essential poll. | A clear majority of Australian voters want governments to step in and regulate electricity and gas prices and also boost investment in renewable energy, according to the latest Guardian Essential poll. |
| The latest poll of 1,826 voters found 86% support for the regulation of power prices and 81% support for more investment in renewable energy and storage. | The latest poll of 1,826 voters found 86% support for the regulation of power prices and 81% support for more investment in renewable energy and storage. |
| Voters also approve of the government reserving more gas for onshore use and would support the cleanup of existing coal-fired power stations. Both ideas attracted 77% support. | Voters also approve of the government reserving more gas for onshore use and would support the cleanup of existing coal-fired power stations. Both ideas attracted 77% support. |
| Less popular, but still with majority support, are measures forcing energy companies to help their customers use less power (65%), and bringing privatised coal generators back into public ownership (56%). | Less popular, but still with majority support, are measures forcing energy companies to help their customers use less power (65%), and bringing privatised coal generators back into public ownership (56%). |
| The least popular options in a list of nine ideas were stopping coal-fired power stations from closing down (51%), building or subsidising new coal plants (48%) and allowing more onshore exploration of gas (48%). | The least popular options in a list of nine ideas were stopping coal-fired power stations from closing down (51%), building or subsidising new coal plants (48%) and allowing more onshore exploration of gas (48%). |
| The findings follow a meeting late on Monday between the Turnbull government and the AGL chief, Andy Vesey, to discuss extending the life of the company’s ageing Liddell plant in New South Wales. | The findings follow a meeting late on Monday between the Turnbull government and the AGL chief, Andy Vesey, to discuss extending the life of the company’s ageing Liddell plant in New South Wales. |
| The government has asked the company to take a proposal to its board to keep the plant operating for another five years, or sell to another operator. | The government has asked the company to take a proposal to its board to keep the plant operating for another five years, or sell to another operator. |
| Additionally the company has agreed to work up a plan within the next 90 days to supply the electricity market with the same quantity of dispatchable power as Liddell after 2022 – when the plant is due to close. | Additionally the company has agreed to work up a plan within the next 90 days to supply the electricity market with the same quantity of dispatchable power as Liddell after 2022 – when the plant is due to close. |
| With negotiations around Liddell in train, and the government yet to resolve whether or not to support the central recommendation of the Finkel review of the national electricity market – a new clean energy target – the energy policy debate in Canberra has again disintegrated into a partisan blame game. | With negotiations around Liddell in train, and the government yet to resolve whether or not to support the central recommendation of the Finkel review of the national electricity market – a new clean energy target – the energy policy debate in Canberra has again disintegrated into a partisan blame game. |
| The Turnbull government has made a big public pitch to be the party of low power prices, but that message doesn’t seem to have any definitive cut-through politically. | The Turnbull government has made a big public pitch to be the party of low power prices, but that message doesn’t seem to have any definitive cut-through politically. |
| Asked in the latest poll which political party would be most likely to deliver lower power prices, 19% of the sample said the Coalition, 28% said Labor, 35% said it would make no difference and 18% didn’t know. | Asked in the latest poll which political party would be most likely to deliver lower power prices, 19% of the sample said the Coalition, 28% said Labor, 35% said it would make no difference and 18% didn’t know. |
| And despite the government’s frequent criticism of the level of market penetration by renewable energy, popular support for low-emissions technology remains strong. | And despite the government’s frequent criticism of the level of market penetration by renewable energy, popular support for low-emissions technology remains strong. |
| Asked to compare renewables with fossil fuels, 73% of the sample said renewables were better for the environment (compared with 8% on fossil fuels), 40% said renewables were better for the economy (compared with 28% for fossil fuels), 34% said renewables were better for jobs (compared with 26% for fossil fuels). | Asked to compare renewables with fossil fuels, 73% of the sample said renewables were better for the environment (compared with 8% on fossil fuels), 40% said renewables were better for the economy (compared with 28% for fossil fuels), 34% said renewables were better for jobs (compared with 26% for fossil fuels). |
| Renewables were also a winner on price in terms of public perception, with 41% saying renewables were better for their electricity costs, compared with 27% for fossil fuels. | Renewables were also a winner on price in terms of public perception, with 41% saying renewables were better for their electricity costs, compared with 27% for fossil fuels. |
| These questions were posed previously in May 2015. Since that time, the main changes are an increase in the perception that renewables are better for the environment (from 69% to 73%) and a decline for renewables being better for electricity costs (from 47% to 41%). | These questions were posed previously in May 2015. Since that time, the main changes are an increase in the perception that renewables are better for the environment (from 69% to 73%) and a decline for renewables being better for electricity costs (from 47% to 41%). |
| Men were more likely to believe that fossil fuels were better for the economy (36%), jobs (32%) and electricity costs (33%), and Coalition voters were also more likely to think fossil fuels are better for the economy (39%), jobs (37%) and electricity costs (35%). | Men were more likely to believe that fossil fuels were better for the economy (36%), jobs (32%) and electricity costs (33%), and Coalition voters were also more likely to think fossil fuels are better for the economy (39%), jobs (37%) and electricity costs (35%). |
| The latest poll has the ALP in a clear election winning position over the Turnbull government, with the opposition ahead 54% to 46% on the two-party preferred measure. Last week, Labor was ahead 53% to 47%. | The latest poll has the ALP in a clear election winning position over the Turnbull government, with the opposition ahead 54% to 46% on the two-party preferred measure. Last week, Labor was ahead 53% to 47%. |
| Despite Labor’s strong performance, voters are marking up the prime minister. | Despite Labor’s strong performance, voters are marking up the prime minister. |
| Voters in the Guardian Essential sample have a higher regard for Malcolm Turnbull than they did a month ago, with 41% of the sample saying they approved of the prime minister’s performance (up from 38% in August). Disapproval remained steady on 46%. | Voters in the Guardian Essential sample have a higher regard for Malcolm Turnbull than they did a month ago, with 41% of the sample saying they approved of the prime minister’s performance (up from 38% in August). Disapproval remained steady on 46%. |
| The September result gives the prime minister a change in his net approval rating from -8 to -5, which is Turnbull’s best net rating since October last year. | The September result gives the prime minister a change in his net approval rating from -8 to -5, which is Turnbull’s best net rating since October last year. |
| Approval of the Labor leader, Bill Shorten, was up one point from August, on 36%, but the Labor leader’s disapproval rating was up five points to 47% (42% in August). | Approval of the Labor leader, Bill Shorten, was up one point from August, on 36%, but the Labor leader’s disapproval rating was up five points to 47% (42% in August). |
| That result represents a change in Shorten’s net approval rating from -7 to -11. | That result represents a change in Shorten’s net approval rating from -7 to -11. |
| Turnbull also retains a clear lead over Shorten as preferred prime minister, with 43% preferring him compared with 29% for Shorten. In August, the measure was Turnbull 41% to Shorten 27%. | Turnbull also retains a clear lead over Shorten as preferred prime minister, with 43% preferring him compared with 29% for Shorten. In August, the measure was Turnbull 41% to Shorten 27%. |
| The results were split by party, with 79% of Coalition voters saying Turnbull would be a better prime minister, and 62% of Labor voters saying Shorten would. | The results were split by party, with 79% of Coalition voters saying Turnbull would be a better prime minister, and 62% of Labor voters saying Shorten would. |
| Greens voters preferred Shorten (42%) to Turnbull (25%). Men prefer Turnbull to Shorten (47% to 30%), as do women (39% to 28%). | Greens voters preferred Shorten (42%) to Turnbull (25%). Men prefer Turnbull to Shorten (47% to 30%), as do women (39% to 28%). |
| Essential poll | Essential poll |
| The Guardian Essential Report | The Guardian Essential Report |
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