HALF of all Illawarra residents would be willing to fork out for higher power bills, if it helped slow climate change, the latest IRIS Research survey has found.In a poll of 500 people concluded last week, IRIS asked those surveyed if they would pay more for energy sources, such as petrol, electricity and gas, if it slowed climate change.Just over half said they would be in favour of doing so, despite predictions of massive job losses in the region at the hands of a carbon tax.The result is the biggest indication yet the Gillard government may be winning over the Illawarra in its bid to sell the carbon tax to "Carbon Central".Only last week British newspaper The Guardian dubbed the Illawarra Carbon Central, thanks to our two economic pillars of coal mining and steelmaking.IRIS executive director Simon Pomfret said the figures showed a strong willingness to absorb some of the costs associated with tackling climate change.However, the question of just how far residents are prepared to dip into their pockets remained unanswered."We know they are willing to accept price rises, but what is the willingness - is it 5 per cent, 10 per cent, 20 per cent?" he asked.Mr Pomfret said polling in June had showed more than 60 per cent of Illawarra residents were against the carbon tax."Now that the carbon tax program is out, it would be interesting to see how the results would change. I think it would be very interesting to ask the question again in our next poll, in September," he said.The region may be a Labor heartland but more Illawarra residents indicated they would vote Liberal than Labor if an election was held now.Mr Pomfret said the result would slash the Labor margins in Throsby and Cunningham.This was despite major backing in the survey for Julia Gillard as preferred prime minister."Which is different to what the national polls are showing at the moment," Mr Pomfret said.The IRIS survey results came on the same day as Coalition agitators Barnaby Joyce and Concetta Fierravanti-Wells rolled into Crown St Mall to spruik their anti-carbon tax message at a rally.The event descended into a verbal brawl when the pair was heckled by anti-Coalition protesters and Greens activists.The sparring continued elsewhere across the nation, as Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott continued their respective roadshows.The Opposition Leader began the day at a Melbourne fish market to drive home his message a carbon tax would export jobs and raise living costs.Meantime, the Prime Minister wandered through Brisbane's Fairfield shopping centre in her continuing campaign to win over support for the tax.