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New polling: Any climate deal with the Coalition risks bleeding Labor's base

Climate Council

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY 21 NOVEMBER

NEW NATIONAL POLLING shows Labor risks losing almost half of its votes if it writes climate out of Australia’s environment laws, and seven in ten of all voters back strong climate safeguards for new coal and gas projects.

Australians expect the national environment law to protect people and nature from climate harm, not wave through more climate pollution, new YouGov research shows. 

The research shows:

  • 68% of voters think the law should protect our environment from the impacts of climate change
  • 70% want climate impacts considered when assessing fossil fuel projects
  • Four in five Labor voters (78%) say it would be the wrong decision for the Prime Minister to exclude climate change in the environment laws, and
  • Almost half of Labor voters say they will be less likely to vote for Labor if the laws don’t address climate change.

This polling lands at a pivotal moment with Australia set to take on the COP31 presidency and the Government looking to prove its climate credentials to both Australians and the international community.

YouGov Director, Public Affairs and Public Data, Paul Smith said: “The data shows that if the government delivers environment laws that ignore climate change, it risks being punished by up to 44% of its 2025 voters at the ballot box.”

Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said: “Australians can see climate damage all around them, from bleached reefs to deadly heat and fires. They expect our environment laws to seriously consider climate pollution from new coal, oil and gas projects, and to curb projects that make the crisis worse. Anything less is a green light for more damage.”

Lock the Gate National Coordinator Carmel Flint said: "Australians want the Federal Government to keep oversight of big environmental decisions that affect us all. Our national environment law should prevent coal and gas mines from harming precious water resources like our rivers, springs and aquifers rather than leaving such decisions solely to state governments." 

The polling comes as the Senate holds hearings into the proposed environment law reforms. Climate Councillor Tim Flannery, Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie are appearing on Friday 21st November, and available for comment. Lock the Gate Head of Research and Investigations George Woods appeared at the hearings on Thursday 20th. 

Polling methodology:

  • Source: Voter attitudes and expectations about national environment laws — YouGov Polling & Public Affairs, prepared for the Climate Council, the Sunrise Project and Lock The Gate, dated 20 Nov 2025.
  • Sample: National sample n=3,783 voters, surveyed between 12 - 17 Nov 2025.

 

ENDS


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