Will Australians support more mining if it will help the country avoid a recession?
A Send Money Australia study November 2022
In 2022, Australians have suffered inflation and high interest rates, and now there is the threat of a global economic downturn.
However, this year Australia’s commodities – two-thirds of which are natural resources – has reached record demand. Coal makes up a large part of these exports as Australia maintains its position as the largest exporter of metallurgical coal, and the second largest exporter of thermal coal. For instance, in the 2022 financial year, Australia exported $422 billion in resources and energy. The Australian Government forecasts exports to increase to $450 billion in the 2023 financial year. [1]
However, this year Australia’s commodities – two-thirds of which are natural resources – has reached record demand. Coal makes up a large part of these exports as Australia maintains its position as the largest exporter of metallurgical coal, and the second largest exporter of thermal coal. For instance, in the 2022 financial year, Australia exported $422 billion in resources and energy. The Australian Government forecasts exports to increase to $450 billion in the 2023 financial year. [1]
The demand for our coal and other natural resources is supporting the Australian dollar in international markets and is forecasted by some to soften future economic downturns in the same way that our strong mining helped soften the impact of the GFC on our economy.
[1] ‘Australia’s resource and energy exports forecast to reach $450 billion.’ Australian Government, Department of Industry, Science and Resources:
industry.gov.au/news/australias-resource-and-energy-exports-forecast-reach-450-billion#:~:text=Export%20volumes%20are%20forecast%20to,declined%2C%20as%20steel%20markets%20weaken.
About the study
Would Australians support mining exports if it could help the country avoid a recession in a climate of competing environmental activism and a global economic downturn? Send Money Australia commissioned a survey of an independent panel of 1009 Australians to gauge whether Australians would support an increase in mining, including coal mining, for economic reasons.
Respondents were asked to choose from three options to identify their stance on Australian mining to avoid a recession: either support all mining, including coal mining; support mining except for coal mining; or not support any mining at all. The survey respondents cover a geographical and population spread that is reflective of the Australian population.
Knowing that coal and metal exports are significant drivers of our Australian dollar and economy, would you support more mining in Australia if it will help Australia avoid an economic downturn?
Send Money Australia found that four in five (79) per cent of Australians would be happy to support some form of mining if it would help Australia avoid a recession. Specifically, more than half of respondents (51 per cent) would support an increase in mining activity, including the mining of coal; 28 per cent were supportive of more mining but not coal; and just 21 per cent were against any additional mining, regardless of the economic benefits.
Analysis of Australians who support mining, including coal mining
Send Money Australia analysed responses by those who support all mining – including coal – across States, age groups and sexes. Queenslanders are most supportive, with 56 per cent supporting coal mining. This was followed closely by 55 per cent of Victorians, 50 per cent of NSW residents, 45 per cent of South Australians, 43 per cent of West Australians and just 28 per cent of ACT residents.
Older Australians – who may be less affected by the impacts of climate change – were more likely to support mining, including coal mining, to help aid the Australian economy. Fifty-nine (59) per cent of over-55s respondents are in favour, followed by 53 per cent of 35-54-year-olds and compared with just 39 per cent of under.
Australian men are more likely than women to support coal mining: 55 per cent of men support more coal mining, compared with only 47 per cent of women. Young women all over the world have become figureheads and leaders of climate justice, as an estimated four out of five people displaced by the impacts of climate change are girls and women[2].
US Department of State. 2022. state.gov/dipnote-u-s-department-of-state-official-blog/women-and-girls-in-climate-activism/
Analysis of Australians who support mining, excluding coal mining
Send Money Australia analysed the responses – across States, age groups and sexes – of those who don’t support more mining of coal but do support other natural resources exports. Residents from the ACT are least supportive of coal mining, with 56 per cent choosing this option. This was followed by just 37 per cent of WA residents, 29 per cent of NSW residents, 28 per cent of SA residents, and an equal 25 per cent of Victorian and Queensland residents.
In opposition to the group of Australians who would support coal mining, younger Australians are more likely to support other forms of mining, excluding coal. More than one third (37 per cent) of under-35s support more mining – excluding coal – followed by 26 per cent of over-55s and 25 per cent of 35-54-year-olds.
Australians who would support mining, excluding coal mining. (By gender.)
Women are more likely to support any other type of mining other than coal: 29 per cent, in comparison to 27 per cent of men.
Analysis of Australians who don’t support any mining
Send Money Australia analysed responses – across States, age groups and sexes – of those who do not support any type of additional mining. South Australians are most likely to disagree with any mining as a means to support the Australian economy, chosen by 28 per cent, followed by 21 per cent of NSW residents, 20 per cent of West Australians and Victorians, 19 per cent of Queenslanders and 17 per cent of ACT residents.
The younger the age group, the more likely are Australians to disapprove of any kind of mining: 24 per cent of under-35s do not support mining altogether, compared with 22 per cent of 35-54-year-olds and 19 per cent of over-55s.
Women are again more likely to stand in opposition to mining, with 24 per cent of Australian women specifying that they would not support mining at all, compared with 18 per cent of men.
