Voices Of Victoria: Your say on introducing nuclear power in Australia

Some think it’s too dangerous, while others think it's a good way to bring energy prices down. Here’s what everyday Victorians think about embracing nuclear power.

Victorians have given their thoughts on whether nuclear power plants should be built in Australia as part of Leader’s Voices of Victoria.

With power prices starting to go through the roof, nuclear power is being increasingly looked at as a potential option to power the country into the future.

In this week’s Voices Of Victoria poll, Leader reporters have spoken to community members in Melbourne’s suburbs, Ballarat, Albury Wodonga and on the Bass Coast to get their views on nuclear power, and whether power plants should be built in Australia.

See if you recognise anyone you know in our poll, and let us know in the comments your thoughts on whether nuclear power should be part of Australia’s future.

Annabel Hine, Mount Martha

Voices of Victoria: Annabel Hine of Mount Martha on nuclear power.

“I definitely would not want Australia relying on nuclear power. It’s way too dangerous. There has to be another way.”

Matt Dunne, Ballarat

“I don’t know enough about nuclear energy to have a say in it. I’m probably not educated in what nuclear energy is.

“I know there needs to be alternative ways to start looking at making things more eco-friendly and maybe moving from coal to something else, or different fuels.

“I think [fear of nuclear power] is just the word. (The word) Nuclear’s kind of scary, but for me I actually don’t know how it works. I’d want to look into it a bit more.”

Pete Dawson, Point Cook

Point Cook man Pete Dawson says the energy market goes a bit over his head, but he thinks its “bizarre” nuclear energy is seen as a red line in Australia.

“We mine it here and if it helped to keep prices low and supply stable we probably should have brought it in years ago,” he said.

“But I don’t think it’ll happen. Plenty of people are against it and Australia’s already moving to renewables.”

Jesse Ruane, Burwood East

“I reckon they should because it’s a good middle ground between coal and renewables.

“I’ve heard it’s a difficult transition to go straight from coal to fully renewables, so I think it would be a good middle point – but I’ve also heard it takes ages to build them.”

Mary Gunn, Cranbourne

Voices of Victoria – Mary Gunn, Cranbourne, on nuclear plants for electricity, image Gemma Scerri

“Yeah, I think why not? Solar is helping a lot at the moment, but other alternatives would be good too.

“We already have seen a huge jump in our power price, even though we do have solar panels and it’s mostly from heating.

“Exploring different ways to get power is a good idea.”

Lyn Dunston, Thomastown

Voices of Victoria: Thomastown retiree Lyn Dunston at Pacific Epping shopping centre on June 16, 2022. Picture: Kirra Grimes

“They (gas and electricity prices) are going up too high, and I’m hardly using any of it.

“I think it’s (building nuclear power plants) a good idea.

“I don’t know much about it but if it’s going to bring our prices down, it’s okay.

“I’m 75, I’ve got arthritis, I’ve had breast cancer … I just want to be comfortable at home and be able to cook and shower, have heating, lighting, and I want that to cost less.”

Michele Scott, Albury Wodonga

Supplied Editorial Fwd: Voices of Victoria

“Probably not, no. Just purely because it’s nuclear I would think. The risks are too high and we don’t really know where it will lead. It’s scary because it’s something we haven’t done before.”

Jordan Ferrari, Mount Evelyn and Isaac Goldsmith, Wandin

Mount Evelyn's Jordan Ferrari and Wandin's Isaac Goldsmith support nuclear energy in Australia. Picture: Kiel Egging.

Jordan: “Yes, obviously we don’t want to put them in hugely populated areas, but they (nuclear power plants) are a lot safer than people give credit for.”

Isaac: “I completely agree, they are much safer than people actually think. We’ve only had a few freak accidents, and that’s what people are worried about the most. There’s new technology these days so accidents like Chernobyl aren’t going to happen again.”

Tom Green, Bass Coast

(no photo)

“I 100 per cent believe that Australia should have numerous nuclear power plants.

“We have all of the natural resources as well as an abundance of water, even the ability to make more through desalination if possible.

“It is one of the cleanest forms of power providing huge amounts of energy!

“It‘s constantly being studied and developed, and to me, makes perfect sense for a country like Australia.”

Sonja Bannan, Blackburn

(no photo)

“No, I think nuclear is not good for the environment and obviously not good for society.

“Electricity costs are rising but we can look to solar and other avenues before we turn to nuclear.”

Axel, Brunswick

(no surname or photo)

“The issue with small-scale modular reactors is how far off they are,” Axel said.

“We would be trying to reduce prices with a technology which is unproven and underdeveloped.

“I’m glad we’re talking about non fossil-fuel energy sources in this country, but there are better options that already exist.”