In Australia, just 4 per cent said the government was doing "a great deal" to address climate change and 19 per cent said it was doing "a fair amount." But more than half (52 per cent) said the government was doing not very much and 14 per cent nothing at all. Damselfish in a degraded habitat in the northern part of the Great Barrier Reef The results were consistent across Australian age groups and income groups although those living in cities were a little more likely to say the government was doing a fair amount to address climate change than those in regional areas. A separate study of public opinions about climate change by the Ipsos polling firm, to be released soon, found most Australians think it is already causing an increase in extreme natural events. Ipsos' figures show 61 per cent think climate change is causing more frequent and/or extreme droughts while 59 per cent think it is causing more frequent and/or extreme bushfires and storms. The polling also found 56 per cent of Australians think climate change is contributing to the destruction of the Great Barrier Reef. "The majority of us buy the argument that climate change is having a serious impact on our natural environment and our weather systems," said Ipsos director, Jessica Elgood.

There is less voter consensus about the scope of climate change policies with 32 per cent saying the government should take whatever actions necessary even if it harms economic growth versus 34 per cent saying climate change action should not harm growth. Only 6 per cent think governments should take no action at all. Credit:Jessica Shapiro "Most of us think something has to be done, the question is the scale of that response," Ms Elgood said. Labor has attacked Malcolm Turnbull over claims he has watered down his personal commitment to strong action on climate change since becoming Prime Minister to appease the right wing of his party. The Turnbull government has adopted a target set while Tony Abbott was Prime Minister to reduce carbon emissions by up to 28 per cent by 2020, based on 2005 figures. Environmental groups have criticised this for being too modest. Labor has announced a far more ambitious emissions reduction target but Mr Turnbull says it will result in "much higher" electricity prices for consumers.