Voters in Chris Bowen’s electorate call for rethink on nuclear ban

Poll reveals Energy Minister gets poor marks for kiboshing nuclear power as other countries vote to get a move on with the technology to cut electricity bills and emissions

An overwhelming majority of voters in Energy Minister Chris Bowen’s western Sydney electorate believe Australia’s ban on developing nuclear energy should be lifted, despite his having called the technology “a fantasy wrapped in a delusion.”

According to polling of voters in key seats — conducted by the NSW Minerals Council and seen by this masthead — 69 per cent of voters in Mr Bowen’s electorate are in favour of using nuclear power as “one of the ways to provide electricity and reduce emissions.”

A similar number, 67 per cent, also supported removing Australia’s ban on nuclear energy.

The survey of three key local seats also found strong support for lifting the ban and exploring nuclear technology in the suburban Sydney seat of Bennelong, held by Labor, and the eastern beaches seat of Wentworth, held by teal MP Allegra Spender.

The figures also revealed that a majority of Labor voters support lifting the ban, and that across all three electorates polled, just three in 10 voters think the government is doing a good job managing energy policy and power prices.

Voters in Allegra Spender’s seat of Wentworth also support lifting the ban on nuclear. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The results come amid a growing global openness to nuclear power, with a number of countries announcing pushes to expand their use of the technology.

Last week, the French government issued draft legislation encouraging “the sustainable use of nuclear energy as a competitive and carbon free” source of electricity.

France currently has 56 operating nuclear reactors which provide around 70 per cent of the country’s power, while the French enjoy power prices far lower than many of their European neighbours.

The UK has also announced plans for what it calling “the biggest expansion of nuclear power for 70 years.”

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called nuclear power “green” in making the announcement last week, saying it was “the perfect antidote to the energy challenges facing Britain”.

Despite increasing global acceptance of nuclear technology by governments looking to provide reliable power while hitting climate targets, Mr Bowen has repeatedly ruled out lifting the ban on exploring nuclear technology.

A woman photographs through a fence surrounding the site of Sizewell C nuclear power station in Sizewell, United Kingdom. This week the UK government announced plans for a new nuclear power station to be built in the UK by 2050. Picture: Carl Court/Getty Images

In separate appearances before the holiday break last year, Mr Bowen called nuclear power in Australia “a fantasy wrapped in a delusion”, “an utter fantasy,” and the “worst fit” for Australia’s energy needs.

“A strong majority of voters in these key electorates are clearly willing to consider a future for nuclear power in Australia, despite the public opposition of their local MPs,” said NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee.

“Australia is among the top twenty most expensive countries in the world when it comes to paying for electricity (and) with the cost of living biting across the nation, especially here in NSW, people are willing to support technology that will lock in affordable and reliable electricity for the future.”

Mr Bowen’s office was contacted for comment.

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