Voters say no coal funds

A POLL of electorates held by senior cabinet ministers, including the Prime Minister, reveals strong opposition to a subsidised federal loan for Adani’s coal project – and support for a moratorium on new coal mines.

The Australia Institute commissioned ReachTEL to conduct surveys of 4712 residents across seven electorates: Wentworth (Malcolm Turnbull), Curtin (Julie Bishop), Cook (Scott Morrison), Dickson (Peter Dutton), Flinders (Greg Hunt), Kooyong (Josh Frydenberg) and Sturt (Christopher Pyne) on June 8.

Respondents were asked whether they supported or opposed the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility giving Adani a billion dollar subsidised loan for its coal rail line. Across the electorates support for the idea varied from 10–17% and opposition from 53–71%.

“Despite a push by some conservatives for coal subsidy polices, these results, in key blue-ribbon Liberal seats, show strong opposition to that very idea,” said the executive director of The Australia Institute, Ben Oquist.

“It makes sense that the Liberal Party base would be so opposed to the idea of spending taxpayers’ money on subsidies for an industry as well established as coal mining.

“What makes less sense is the idea ministers who represent those seats, who believe in free markets and small government principles would ignore both the politics and economics when it comes to Adani.

In every electorate, more people supported a moratorium on new coal mines than opposed the proposal – 51% of the PM’s constituents support a moratorium, 31% oppose it.

“These results show that Malcolm Turnbull should be confident in staring down the pro-coal faction in his party room,” Mr Oquist said.