Scott Morrison takes a bushfires hit

Scott Morrison’s popularity and support for new coalmines has plunged in the wake of Australia’s disastrous bushfire season.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: AAP

Scott Morrison’s popularity and support for new coalmines has plunged in the wake of Australia’s disastrous bushfire season, ­according to a study that has tested people’s views of the crisis.

The Australian National University polled more than 3000 Australians between January 20 and February 3 about their experiences of and exposure to the horror fires.

It shows more than 15 million Australians were exposed to the fires (either directly or indirectly) and 2.9 million had their property damaged, threatened or had to be evacuated.

The greatest drop in support for new coalmines was among those who voted for the Coalition in last year’s federal election, with support plunging from 71.8 per cent in June to 57.5 per cent last month.

Just over a third (37 per cent) of respondents said the government should allow the opening of new coalmines, down from 45.3 per cent last June.

But the decline in support for new coalmines does not appear to have been driven by voters’ ­exposure to bushfires.

The study found support for new coalmines strengthened among those who had been ­directly affected by the fires.

The report also shed new light on a sharp fall in the Prime Minister’s popularity. The study found Australians had become “less satisfied with the direction of the country, less satisfied with their own life, and less confident in the federal government”.

The ANU Centre for Social ­Research and Methods associate director Nicholas Biddle said there was “quite strong disapproval” of the federal government’s handling of the bushfires.

Mr Morrison recorded an average score of 3.92 out of 10, a substantial decline from the 5.25 he received when the question was asked last June.

“This is one of the largest ­declines in confidence I have seen in such a short period of time,” Professor Biddle said.

Anthony Albanese’s popularity increased slightly from 4.87 to 5.04.

The Prime Minister’s personal ­approval ratings fell eight points to 37 per cent in last month’s Newspoll, as the Coalition fell behind Labor on a two-party-preferred basis for the first time since the election.

About half of respondents in the ANU poll said the environment was the most important or second most important issue for Australia, compared to almost 42 per cent who rated it as a top priority in October.

About 72 per cent said global warming would affect them.

The number who said global warming was a very serious threat has increased from 20 per cent in 2008 to 33 per cent in 2020.

“There was also a general increase in the predicted impact and seriousness of a range of environmental issues over the short and long term,” Professor Biddle said.

He said the majority of residents living in and outside the capital cities shared the same view in relation to the three main environmental questions asked.