South Australia has the lowest rate of self-identifying ‘preppers’ in the nation, a new report shows, yet has the highest rate of people who are practically preparing for a major global instability.
A new report by Primara Research has revealed 5 per cent of South Australians identified as preppers, 6 per cent below the national average and 8 per cent below the most popular state for preppers, New South Wales, with 13.
Almost half of South Australians (49 per cent and the highest in the nation by 3 per cent) surveyed said they were “not a prepper, but I’m being practical”.
39 per cent of South Australians are growing their own food. Picture: Andy Rogers
A further 28 per cent said they weren’t preppers but understood why people were – this compares to 23 per cent nationally) and a further 23 per cent said they weren’t preppers at all.
Primara Research head of research and data Peter Drunnan said this isn’t a “story about survivalists”.
“It’s about a growing group of practical Australians making conscious decisions about their most valuable asset.
“The prepper label is almost a distraction.
“The mainstream is quietly doing the same thing to their homes.”
So how are they doing it?
According to the report, 39 per cent of South Australians are growing their own food, 32 per cent said they were concerned about energy self-sufficiency and 23 per cent were stockpiling fuel and supplies.
South Aussies are looking for ways to beat the cost of living crisis. Pic: Supplied.
Another 23 per cent said were looking at buying an electric or hybrid vehicle, 26 per cent were looking at increasing their rainwater catchment and 23 per cent were updating their security infrastructure.
A further 11 per cent said they were looking to go fully off-grid, relocating rurally or regionally, and adding extra storage or outbuildings.
MORE NEWS:
103yo seller farewells beloved home at auction
Adelaide home with X-rated feature that’s blowing buyers away
Adelaide homeowner to make $1.5m doing absolutely nothing
$74,500 more than last year – Adelaide home prices surge
How much you need to save to buy in every Australian suburb
Shock $20k hack changing Aussie lives
Mr Drunnan said the reason more South Australians didn’t consider themselves preppers was because those principals of self-sufficiency was a widely-held ideology.
“South Australia is a dry, isolated state with abundant wind and solar resources, and its government has leaned into that,” he said.
“More than 70 per cent of their electricity is already renewable, so the self-sufficient mindset tends to follow.
“South Australians don’t think of themselves as preppers because, in many ways, they are already living the outcome.”
Solar is just one way to beat the bills in preparation for a major global instability.
Renew chief executive officer Helen Oakey said Australian households were leading one of the fastest clean energy transformations in the world.
“Families are installing rooftop solar, embracing home batteries, retrofitting insulation, and adopting passive design to save on bills and improve the safety of their homes in the face of extreme weather events,” she said.
“Seeing solutions in action inspires neighbours to act too.
“Small changes add up.”
She said people were feeling the impacts of extreme heat, rising energy costs, and unreliable power.
“They’re looking for practical ways to respond,” she said.
English (US) · 