Pricing Pollution: Community Sentiment Study

In November 2025, The Superpower Institute commissioned Redbridge Group to conduct national quantitative research into Australian attitudes toward climate change, carbon pollution, and fossil fuel exports. The research explores how Australians are thinking about climate policy in the context of ongoing cost-of-living pressure and broader concerns about economic fairness.

The findings point to two strong and broadly held community views.

First, there is substantial support for introducing a levy on Australia’s largest polluting companies. When asked whether the Australian Government should introduce a levy on the country’s 100 biggest polluters, which collectively account for around 80 per cent of Australia’s emissions:

• Across all voters, 68 per cent agree or strongly agree with the proposal, with support notably positive among younger Australians.
• Support also remains high among regional voters in NSW, Victoria and Queensland, with 66 per cent agreement.

Second, the research shows overwhelming agreement that Australians deserve a better return from the sale of gas resources. 87 per cent – more than four in five voters – agree with this principle, with strong and consistent support across voting intention, age groups, income levels, regions, and levels of financial stress. This is one of the most broadly shared views identified in the study.

Taken together, the findings indicate that policies which focus on fairness and accountability resonate more strongly with the community than abstract debates about climate targets.

Australians consistently express the view that responsibility should sit with major contributors to pollution and with companies that benefit from publicly owned natural resources – rather than with households.

This research provides a clear evidence base for reforms that price pollution and ensure a fairer return from Australia’s gas resources, grounded in existing public attitudes rather than political mythology.