27 August 2025
As Advent Energy continues its campaign to extend its Petroleum Exploration Permit (PEP-
11) offshore the Hunter Region of New South Wales, new opinion polling shows that public
support for gas exploration in the area remains stronger than opposition.
The polling, commissioned by Advent Energy, is based on results from 1,010 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:
- 63% of Hunter Region voters supported exploring, developing and using more of Australia’s gas reserves, while only 9% opposed that activity.
- 43% of respondents said they supported gas exploration offshore the Hunter region. 35% neither supported or opposed the activity, and only 22% opposed this local gas exploration.
- 54% of respondents said cost of living was the biggest issue in this year’s Federal election, while 13% listed “managing the economy” and 8% said environment and climate change was the major issue. Less than 1% listed offshore gas exploration as the most significant issue.
The poll was conducted by data and insights firm Pureprofile in the last week of July and first
week of August 2025. The survey size means it is accurate within a 3% margin.