The real cost of living fix is renewables, not nuclear

Right about now in the election cycle, you would be expecting the Coalition to double down on its energy policy. Labor made a whopping announcement to bring down the cost of batteries for all Australian households, but we have had radio silence from the Coalition on its much-touted nuclear policy.

We have had radio silence from the Coalition on its much-touted nuclear policy.Credit: Monique Westermann

Why? Because Australians know it won’t bring down bills. And this is a cost-of-living election. Despite what Peter Dutton and other pro-nuclear forces would have you believe, polling consistently shows strong public support for renewable energy. In some places, it’s even growing.

In my own polling from February this year, 70 per cent of Australians supported a shift to renewables such as solar, wind and hydro. But what’s even more interesting is that even amid the escalating attacks on renewables from fossil fuel interests, almost half of people we surveyed said they felt more supportive of renewables now than they did a year ago.

Australians see renewables delivering tangible benefits in their daily lives. They notice solar panels slashing bills on rooftops across their neighbourhoods. They hear about large-scale battery projects stabilising the grid during peak demand. They understand that wind and solar, paired with storage solutions, offer a clear path to lower power costs – one that’s clean and safe.

Voters want cost-of-living solutions that will really bring down energy prices today, not in 20 years. A striking 72 per cent of Australians believe that renewables such as solar, wind and battery storage are the fastest way to cut power bills. Sixty per cent say they’re more likely to vote for political candidates who can help them access energy upgrades like rooftop solar.

Contrast that with nuclear. Recently touted as the solution to our energy challenges by the Coalition, nuclear power is now conspicuously absent from the national conversation. The reason is simple: Australians don’t buy it. Only 15 per cent believe nuclear reactors would lower energy bills. It’s no surprise, then, that its political champions are quietly retreating from the spin.

Nearly 40 per cent of voters blame profit-seeking by energy companies for rising power prices – more than any other factor. And 60 per cent say the federal government has a responsibility to step in to bring bills down. The message is clear: voters want leadership that prioritises their needs over corporate interests.

This presents an undeniable opportunity for political leaders to connect with voters across demographics. But it also demands courage – a willingness to challenge the status quo dominated by fossil fuel companies and their record-breaking profits at the expense of struggling households.

This election will be even more of a power struggle than usual and if politicians want to come out on top they will need real policies that voters believe can deliver cheaper energy now.

If we know, we’d vote no.Credit: Matt Golding

Six months ago, I wrote in this paper that “if you give voters free solar and batteries, they might keep you in power, Mr Albanese.”

There’s a winning strategy staring our pollies in the face: embrace renewables as the foundation of Australia’s energy future and deliver solutions that cut bills now, and for decades to come.

Australians are already on board. Labor is catching up. And it’s clear. Australians don’t want nuclear. They simply want the solution that brings bills down now.

Dr Rebecca Huntley is one of Australia’s foremost researchers on social trends and a Fellow of the Research Society of Australia. She is Director of Research at 89 Degrees East.

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