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July 23rd, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda Eds: This story not for use before 0001 AEST Tuesday, July 24.
By Paul Osborne, AAP Senior Political Writer
CANBERRA, July 23 AAP – Voter dislike of the carbon tax is a knee-jerk response which could be turned around with more information, a new study by the Climate Institute has found.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has been battling to convince voters of the merits of a carbon tax since it was flagged in early 2011.
A Climate Institute study, released on Tuesday, showed only 28 per cent of voters supported the carbon tax, levied on the top polluters on July 1, with 52 per cent opposed and 20 per cent uncertain.
But when it was explained the tax revenue went to household assistance, business support and renewable energy the figure shifted to 47 per cent in favour, 29 per cent against and 24 per cent uncertain.
Twice as many people (28 per cent) believed Labor had an effective plan to reach the bipartisan target of a five per cent emissions cut by 2020 than the coalition (14 per cent).
With Opposition Leader Tony Abbott vowing to repeal the carbon tax if elected in 2013, 44 per cent of voters believed he would take such action, 30 per cent thought he wouldn’t, and 36 per cent were uncertain.
Two-thirds of those surveyed said the federal government should lead the way in taking action on climate change, while 47 per cent said business should lead.
Climate Institute chief John Connor, who will release the full report in Canberra on Tuesday, said it was a reflection of the “quality of the political debate” that voters were not properly informed of the merits of carbon pricing.
“To some extent there’s a kneejerk dislike of the laws, but if you spend 30 seconds to explain it then support strengthens,” Mr Connor told AAP.
“All of this is saying the ground is there to be gained, and now is not the time to walk away from this issue.”
He said the study results were food for thought for all political parties and business leaders.
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