Helping with petrol and power bills will deliver widespread voter support for emissions trading
A move by the Government to help households meet electricity and fuel price rises will deliver widespread voter acceptance of emissions trading, a major new nationwide poll shows.
An overwhelming 81% of New Zealanders say there should be some transitional assistance given to those affected by higher fuel and electricity costs caused by pricing greenhouse gas emissions.
Asked who should receive the help, 53% say all households.
And the most popular way of delivering the assistance is through rebates on monthly household electricity bills. 76% also like the idea of the Government providing cash incentives to help them replace energy-inefficient home appliances.
The ShapeNZ poll, taken between 5.35pm Tuesday and 8.30am Thursday July 14-17, has 2987 respondents.
Weighted by age, gender, personal income, employment status, ethnicity and party vote 2005, the poll provides a representative population sample with a maximum margin of error of plus or minus 1.8%.
The poll also shows continuing high concern over climate change, with 78% saying it is a problem to be dealt with now (49%) or urgently (29%). 7% say it is a problem for later, while 12% say it is not a problem and 2% don't know.
More support the emissions trading scheme (44%), than oppose (26%) while 23% are neutral and 6% don't know.
The New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development, which commissioned the poll through its ShapeNZ research service, says the results will be of interest to those now involved in negotiations to get majority support for the emissions trading bill in Parliament.
Business Council Chief Executive Peter Neilson says, the bill proposes support for trade-exposed high emissions businesses.MPs would ensure widespread acceptance by the electorate of carbon pricing if the Government also provides transitional help to households to meet higher fuel and power bills.
Under the scheme electricity prices would include an emissions price in 2010, and fuel prices in 2011 (delayed from 2009).
Voters for all parties in Parliament back the idea of recycling revenue the Government might make from emissions trading (from selling emission credits and increased profits made by some power companies). This could be more than $100 million a year. Emissions pricing could put petrol up by 4 cents to 8 cents per litre, depending on carbon prices in 2011.
Providing transitional assistance to households is supported by voters for all main parties represented in Parliament: Labour 81%, National 70%, Green 66%, Maori 64% NZ First 76%, ACT 48% (30% oppose), United Future 80%.
Ensuring there is support for low income households is a matter raised by New Zealand First and United Future in public discussion on conditions for their support for the emissions trading bill, now reported back to Parliament by the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee.
HOUSEHOLD EMISSIONS ASSISTANCE
Asked to select one or all of three options on who should get assistance to adjust to fuel and electricity emissions prices, "all households regardless of income" ranks first (chosen by 53% of respondents), followed by "all low income households" (43%) and beneficiaries (19%).
When asked to select one or all of seven options to recycle emissions trading scheme revenue, a monthly rebate applied to household electricity bills ranks first (chosen by 40% of respondents), followed by a personal tax rebate (23%), and a cash rebate paid directly to all households (20%).
A full copy of the climate change and emissions trading poll results is available at www.nzbcsd.org.nz
People can join the ShapeNZ panel at www.shapenz.org.nz and complete the survey.