WESTERN Australians are more concerned about future energy needs than elsewhere in the nation, the only state to place the issue above rising living costs, according to a survey released last week.
Research commissioned by Shell Australia - which polled 1,000 participants from Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney -showed a strong public health system was the number one priority for WA, which had 211 respondents.
In most cities, public health was the number one priority although Sydney and Adelaide respondents signalled the cost of living was more pressing.
However, Perth respondents were unusual in considering energy use the second-most pressing issue, with 76 per cent of WA residents who took part raising the issue as a significant concern.
The survey showed cost of living concerns were the third-top reason keeping WA residents up at night, with housing affordability, public education and the road toll featuring as the next most important matters in Western Australians’ minds.
In terms of meeting future energy needs, renewable energy was the most preferred source, with 93 per cent favouring solar, the highest level in the nation, and 76 per cent opting for wind. These two options were first and second for each city.
Perth’s third preference was for wave power, significantly above natural gas. In most cities the opposite mix was observed. Just under half of those surveyed thought natural gas needed to become the preferred energy source of the future, while fewer than one in 10 picked oil or coal.
Most respondents clearly believed the government had responsibility for solving future energy needs, but Perth respondents were the most emphatic about this, hitting 70 per cent compared to the national average of 65 per cent.
Perth people were very much like the rest of the nation, with the majority expressing surprise that the oil and gas was the leader in spending on new energy technology. The exception was in Brisbane.
The data also showed WA was the most climate aware state, with 61 per cent of people questioned indicating cutting CO2 emissions was “very important”.
Shell Australia country chair Ann Pickard said she was not surprised with the findings.
“Over the next 30 years, the global energy system needs to undergo a transition as profound as any in its history and Western Australia has a key role to play in this shift,” Ms Pickard said.
