Exclusive Sunday Mail Your Say, SA survey reveals majority support for a nuclear industry

EXCLUSIVE: The Your Say, SA survey results are in — and have some fascinating and surprising findings on the nuclear debate, which politicians we trust, our optimism about the future and much more.

• YOUR SAY, SA: Complete survey results here
• LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: Weatherill pushes for nuclear referendum
• NUCLEAR DOSSIER: All your questions answered

• READ BELOW: Confidence — A ray of hope as tough times bite

• READ BELOW: Politics — MPs have job cut out to restore voters’ faith

MAJORITY support for creating a nuclear industry in South Australia is revealed in an extensive Sunday Mail survey of public opinion, in a rebuff to moves to shut down further study of a high-level waste dump.

The 4000 respondents to the annual Your Say, SA survey ranked nuclear among the top six most important industries to the state economy over the next 20 years.

More than 56 per cent supported moves to create a nuclear industry in SA but 43.7 per cent were opposed.

Asked what nuclear facility SA should build, 39.6 per cent said a nuclear power plant, 39.7 per cent wanted a repository for Australian radioactive waste and 34.9 per cent backed the high-level repository controversially proposed by the nuclear royal commission.

Premier Jay Weatherill at the world’s largest nuclear waste facility being developed at Onkalo, Finland.

The results lend weight to Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis’s claim of a “silent majority” in favour of Labor’s proposed referendum on the nuclear fuel cycle.

They cast doubt over a citizens’ jury’s blanket rejection this month of “participation any further in the nuclear cycle, specifically foreign high-level nuclear waste storage facility” as “detrimental to our image”.

Support for nuclear power generation appears to have been bolstered by 56.4 per cent of respondents declaring power supply and prices the biggest issue facing SA, second only to 63.1 per cent saying jobs and job security.

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Premier Jay Weatherill told the Sunday Mail the $257 billion projected revenue from a repository for overseas waste showed the opportunity should be fully explored, not prematurely dropped because of political opportunism.

But Opposition Leader Steven Marshall said worries about job security and high power prices showed South Australians had no confidence in Labor, which wanted to gamble $600 million of public money on trying to attract the world’s high-level nuclear waste.

The survey results suggest people are open to further debate, despite 39 per cent saying the state should not build a nuclear facility of any kind and a dump for international waste attracting 35 per cent, rather than majority, support.

This contrasts with two-thirds of the 350-person citizens’ jury declaring it did not want to pursue the high-level dump under any circumstances, even though its report did highlight “involvement in nuclear waste disposal may lead to nuclear power becoming a feasible alternate power source”.

Two Advertiser/Galaxy polls, in February and September, have uncovered 48 per cent and 49 per cent support respectively for the high-level waste repository. In the September poll, 61 per cent of Liberal supporters were in favour, although Mr Marshall withdrew bipartisan support for exploring the opportunity only this month.

The Your Say, SA survey also found more than 58 per cent were pessimistic about the state’s future, while 35.5 per cent were somewhat optimistic and just 6.1 per cent very optimistic.

Two-thirds thought life for their children or grandchildren would be more difficult and stressful.

Mr Weatherill recommitted to a referendum on the high-level dump, saying it was ultimately a matter for people, not political parties, to decide.

“I believe the only way forward is the restoration of bipartisanship, then we must put our trust in the people of South Australia through a statewide referendum,” he said.

He said diverse views on the nuclear issue also had been   uncovered in statewide consultation.

Mr Marshall said the survey results confirmed people did not have any confidence in the Labor government.

“This is consistent with what people are telling me across the state. People are worried about keeping their jobs and they’re worried about their children finding a job,”   he said.

“South Australians are being punished by ridiculous power prices and State Government charges.”

The Your Say, SA survey results show a slight decline in support for a nuclear industry in SA since last year, when 65 per cent of more than 5700 respondents declared support and 35 per cent were opposed.

Importantly, support for an international waste repository was almost identical, at 34 per cent, while 47 per cent supported a nuclear power plant and 43 per cent backed a national waste dump.

The centrepiece recommendation of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission, which reported in May, was that SA investigate the feasibility of storage and disposal of international used nuclear fuel and intermediate-level waste.

Analysis prepared for the royal commission determined, on conservative estimates, this repository could generate $257 billion in total revenue, with costs of $145 billion over the project’s 120-year life.

But Mr Weatherill decided against policy or legislative change “at this time” in the wake of the citizens’ jury report, released on November 6.

CONFIDENCE

A RAY OF HOPE AS TOUGH TIMES BITE

By Craig Cook

SOUTH Australians are increasingly worried about the future of their children and grandchildren with new figures showing most believe life will be more difficult and stressful.

High unemployment rates, an expensive housing market and governments’ failures to tackle the rapidly declining manufacturing industry are among the reasons behind the concerns.

Two thirds of South Australians responding to the survey believe life will be more difficult and stressful for their children and grandchildren than it has been for them.

The figure is 6 per cent higher than last year’s survey, although those who believe life will be easier for future generations has also risen 2 per cent as the number of people who are uncertain about what the future holds has reduced from 29 to 21 per cent.

Allison and Alex Nikula with children Anna, 3, and Liv, 6. The couple say SA has an entrepreneurial spirit. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Two years ago less than half of the survey respondents believed life would be more difficult.

Times are tough but overall optimism levels from respondents are slightly higher this year than last. More than 40 per cent are “somewhat” or “very” optimistic compared to 37 per cent last year.

Annette Bulling from the Wellbeing and Resilience Centre at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute said even in dire circumstances people could improve their sense of optimism and confidence.

South Australia is regarded as a global leader in positive reinforcement and being promoted worldwide as the “State of wellbeing”.

Developed at SAHMRI, the PERMA + program, standing for positive emotion, engagement, relationship, meaning and purpose, and accomplishment, is an internationally recognised measure for wellbeing.

“People who are resilient have the same amount of negative feelings but they have more positive emotions that links to optimism,” Ms Bulling said.

“If you can find joy in any situation it can make you more creative and open to new ideas and more optimistic.

“The optimistic person finds a way forward in all the positive little things that occur around them.”

SAHMRI offers training for individuals, families and businesses that tracks measurements based on an initial test of overall confidence levels.

Alex and Allison Nikula, with children Viv, 6, and Anna, 3, who run their own business from their Kingswood home, are advocates of the program.

A graduate of the SA Young Entrepreneur Scheme with Business SA, Mrs Nikula, 35, said her family practiced “optimism and gratitude” daily.

“With the girls, rather than just being general I ask them ‘What was your favourite thing that happened at school today?’” the occupational therapist said. “It gives them the opportunity to reflect on what is great. In finding those moments you can have an increased sense of being able to cope with life’s challenges.”

The couple, who began their own business last year, are committed to the state and say Adelaide’s booming small business revival has given them confidence.

“South Australia has an entrepreneurial mindset, that people can go out on their own and make it, that we don’t have back in Scandinavia,” Mr Nikula, 41 and born in Finland, said.

“I’m basically running my own finance department (Myezybooks) for small business from home and I really don’t think I could do that anywhere else.”

“Many of my clients are people younger than me — Generation Y who seem confident to go out on their own and seek their dreams in South Australia.”

POLITICS

POLLIES HAVE JOB CUT OUT TO RESTORE VOTERS’ FAITH

By Sheradyn Holderhead

TRUST in political leaders — or a lack thereof — is shaping to be a defining issue ahead of the 2018 state election, as fears grow of job losses and the lack of planning for Holden’s closure.

Results from the survey reveal an overwhelming 85 per cent of respondents do not believe the state and federal governments have done enough to overcome the closure of Holden’s Elizabeth plant next year.

It is a damning finding given that job security ranked as the No. 1 issue facing South Australia. The story is similar to what has just unfolded in the US, where voters in the industrial heartland turned their backs on the Democrats to elect maverick Republican Donald Trump.

Manufacturing job losses opened up voters to an alternative voice wanting to keep alive the tradition of leaving school for an industrial job that pays enough to support a family.

Combined with a grassroots movement against the political elite, it helped secure Mr Trump’s surprise victory.

Dissatisfaction with state and federal political parties was evident in SA, as at least half of all respondents to the survey negatively ranked parties’ and their leaders’ performances.

People were more critical of the state parties’ performances than the extremely divided Federal Parliament, suggesting that Labor and the Liberals have a long way to go to convince voters to back them at the March 2018 state election.

Opposition Leader Steven Marshall was more trusted than Premier Jay Weatherill while, in the federal sphere, Senator Nick Xenophon was the most trusted.

In a particular blow to Mr Weatherill, about 60 per cent of respondents believe their standard of living is no better than before he took over as Premier five years ago.

Senator Nick Xenophon is our most trusted federal politician, the survey finds.

Senator Xenophon’s popularity would be worrying for the major parties as his NXT Party prepares to field candidates in state’s Lower House for the first time. The federal election results, where NXT won a Liberal seat and threatened in others, have led many to believe his candidates would have the best chance in SA electorates.

But the senator’s support of Holden and traditional manufacturing, coupled with respondents’ clear message that both major parties have failed to deal with the impending closure, means Labor’s northern suburbs heartland could be at risk.

Flinders University political analyst Haydon Manning said the results confirmed the trends seen in the federal election.

“What we categorically know is that many voters shifted to minor parties and independents at the recent national election — a record low vote for the major parties,” he said.

“There is no reason to think the political landscape, and mood of voters, will change leading into our state election.”

But Associate Professor Manning said Senator Xenophon faced a challenge if he wanted to be taken seriously in Lower House seats.

“He has not led a party, nor led a party membership who would no doubt be keen to have a say on policy, if not candidates,” he said. “It is hard to see how the ‘team’ running in March 2018 is not vulnerable to attack on the grounds of ‘what do they stand for’ .”