5 April 2023
New opinion polling shows that public sentiment towards gas exploration offshore the Hunter Region of New South Wales has far stronger support than activists have acknowledged, and politicians may have realised.
The polling, commissioned by Asset Energy, is based on results from 1,000 respondents aged 18 and over in the Hunter Region.
The polling found a much higher level of concern over the impacts of likely gas shortages in the region than concern about plans to extract gas offshore. Specifically, it found:
- 50% of respondents said cost of living was the biggest issue in last week’s NSW election, while 12% listed “managing the economy” and 8% said environment and climate change was the major issue. Less than 1% listed gas exploration as the most significant issue.
- 61% of Hunter Region voters supported exploring, developing, and using more of Australia’s gas reserves, while only 10% opposed that activity.
- 37% of respondents said they supported gas exploration offshore the Hunter region. 41% neither supported or opposed the activity, and 22% opposed this local gas exploration.
The poll was conducted by data and insights firm Pureprofile in the week immediately after the March 25 NSW State election. The survey size means it is accurate within a 3% margin.