Help us electrify: What Australians want in the Federal Budget
The Climate Council
EMBARGOED UNTIL 12.01AM TUESDAY 5 MAY 2026
Australians want budget measures to help electrify their homes and transport, and the government to prioritise renewable energy sources rather than fossil fuels, a new poll has found (attached).
As people seek clean energy solutions to the fuel crisis, with 60 percent of people driving less, Aussies are looking for budget measures to back their efforts.
Almost two thirds of people (65%) want support to purchase an electric vehicle, with almost five million Australians now more likely to consider buying one. Three quarters of Australians support household battery incentives and 79% want help to make homes more energy-efficient.
To secure our energy future, almost two thirds of people (62%) want the government to prioritise investment in renewable energy, not coal and gas.
The nationally-representative poll of 1,501 Australians, conducted by YouGov on behalf of the Climate Council and the Sunrise Project in April, found that in response to the fuel crisis:
- An estimated 12.8 million Australians (60%) have reduced how much they drive or use fuel due to spiking costs.
- Almost two thirds of people (65%) want support to purchase an electric vehicle, with almost five million Australians now more likely to consider buying one.
- Australians want the Federal Budget to support them to have more control over their energy and bills, with 79% wanting help to buy more energy-efficient appliances and insulation, and 75% wanting support to purchase home batteries.
- About one third (32%) of people report using public transport more often.
- To build our energy security, 62% of people want the government to prioritise investment in renewable energy, rather than coal and gas.
Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said the polling showed Australians were doing what they could to shift to clean energy solutions and wanted the government to support them.
“Australians are resilient and are doing what they can, but as people struggle with huge petrol price rises they want the government to back them in to electrify their homes and transport,” Ms McKenzie said.
“Australians can see that relying on foreign oil has left us exposed to supply shocks and price spikes. This Budget is a critical chance to take back control of our energy supply and move to a cleaner, safer electric future powered by our own renewable resources - the wind and the sun.”
Climate Council Councillor and former BP executive Greg Bourne said Australia was already a world leader in renewable power and was well positioned to electrify on a large-scale, with close to 45% of the power in our main grid already coming from renewables.
“Powering our cars, homes and businesses with more of Australia’s wind and sun is a no-brainer to build energy resilience and cut costs, ” Mr Bourne said.
“Relying on coal, oil and gas leaves our energy security at risk, while expanding renewables protect us. This Federal Budget should double-down on what’s working, and accelerate the shift to powering the nation with clean energy, now and in the future.”
ENDS
For more information check out Climate Council's Four Ways to Unlock Energy Security in this Year's Federal Budget.
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