Australia urged to walk away from gas for renewables
About three in five people believe adding renewables - such as wind and solar with battery storage - is a better solution to meet Australia's energy needs than increased gas production.More than half believe fracking brings more problems than benefits to local communities, according to a YouGov survey commissioned by environmental financing advocacy group Market Forces.
With Australians set to take to the ballot boxes for the May 3 election, gas could shift votes.
Labor has committed to opening new gas fields as part of Australia's transition to net-zero emissions, while the coalition has promised to increase gas supply to try to lower energy prices.
Market Forces does not take positions on political parties as it focuses on the private sector, but analyst Kyle Robertson said expanding new gas fields was incompatible with the goals of the Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate change which Australia has backed.
"We're still a massive exporter of fossil fuels and both major political parties support that," he told AAP.
"We need to walk away from our expansion plans, not just domestically, but also for projects that will be exported overseas."
Australia was the world's seventh-largest gas producer in 2020, but about 70 per cent was exported in 2019/20, according to government figures.
As a result, a majority of people think expanding gas does not benefit them or the nation, the YouGov survey found.
Fracking in particular is a sore spot for many Australians, with two in three believing it is harmful for the environment and just under half opposing the practice, which is banned in Tasmania, Victoria and 15 countries due to environmental and health risks.
Even those who support the expansion of gas fracking harboured concerns, the survey revealed.
Almost half of them believe expanding renewable energy is a better option, while 42 per cent believe it is harmful for the environment.
This could be because Australia's industry says there are looming gas shortages that can only be addressed by opening new gas fields.
"In an ideal world, Australians want more renewable energy, but they've been sold a narrative by the gas industry that gas is absolutely essential for the energy transition," Mr Robertson said.
"So, there's certainly work to do there around public perceptions."
In March, the Australian Energy Market Operator - which has long predicted gas shortfalls for the southern states - downgraded its forecast as high prices, mild winters and electrification pushed back gas shortages until 2028.
This could indicate electrification through renewables, alongside battery storage, was the "way of the future", Mr Robertson said.
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