A vast majority of Australians (70%) believe the nation’s biggest polluters should pay for the damage they do to the environment and the role they play in climate change.

Despite the drawn-out cost-of-living crisis, this year’s Climate of the Nation report – The Australia Institute’s annual snapshot of what Australians know, and feel, about climate change – reveals voters still care deeply about protecting the environment, says the Australia Institute.

The report also reveals Australians grossly overestimate what some of our biggest polluters really contribute to the economy, in terms of tax, royalties and employment in Australia.

Overall, voters believe the government is not doing enough to combat climate change, especially when it comes to verifying and explaining claims of “net zero” or “carbon neutrality”.

Key findings:

• 70% of Australians support a polluter-pays mechanism
• 50% think the government is not doing enough to tackle climate change
• 70% say gas companies should pay royalties on the gas they extract and sell
• Australians think gas and oil companies pay 55 more tax (Petroleum Resource Rent Tax, aimed at making companies pay for the natural resources they extract and sell) than they actually pay
• 52% of Australian oppose subsidies for the expansion of the coal, oil and gas industries
• Three quarters (75%) of Australians believe the nation’s climate policy should be based on best-practice science, free from industry influence
• Almost two-thirds (64%) want credible action to address fossil fuel production – in line with a commitment made at COP28 – if Australia is to co-host the COP31 summit in 2026

“Politicians seem to think the cost-of-living crisis has led to voters to take their eyes off the ball when it comes to climate change. This report proves that is not the case,” said Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director of The Australia Institute.

“Even though Australians are doing it tough with high interest rates, high prices and high inflation, a huge majority still want meaningful action on climate change and believe governments are not doing enough.

“The Climate of the Nation report has repeatedly shown the vast majority of Australians want our biggest polluters to pay for the damage they do.

“They think gas and oil companies pay huge amounts of tax and employ huge numbers of people. This could not be further from the truth. While these wealthy multi-nationals make huge profits selling Australia’s natural resources overseas, many pay little or no company tax.

“Australians want governments to listen to the science and take action to protect the environment, not protect those making huge profits destroying the environment.”