Nuclear support in Teal seats, as women sit on fence

Only 23 per cent of voters in teal, Greens and independent seats oppose nuclear power plants and reactors, according to polling showing an uptick in support for nuclear energy generation.

Leader David Crisafulli at the LNP annual convention in Brisbane on Friday. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

Only 23 per cent of voters in teal, Greens and independent seats ­oppose conventional nuclear power plants and reactors, according to new polling showing an uptick in support for nuclear energy generation.

JWS polling commissioned by the Minerals Council of Australia reveals a 21 per cent net favourability for nuclear energy generation in teal, Greens and independent seats, with 44 per cent in support and 23 per cent opposed.

The wider national poll of 3350 voters in 45 metropolitan, regional and suburban seats conducted between April 12-29, ahead of Peter Dutton’s election pitch to build seven nuclear plants, found 41 per cent of Australians backed nuclear power plants and reactors, with 25 per cent against, 10 per cent undecided and 24 per cent neutral.

In seats held by independents and Greens, including Wentworth, Warringah, Kooyong, North Sydney, Goldstein, Curtin, Mackellar, Brisbane, Ryan and Fowler, 76 per cent of voters either support conventional nuclear generation, have neutral views or are undecided.

The research indicates the ­Opposition Leader will need to convince women voters. While 52 per cent of men across 45 electorates support nuclear generation by conventional nuclear plants and reactors, only 30 per cent of women do. Among female voters, 42 per cent are neutral or undecided about conventional nuclear generation.

Support for nuclear power is highest among men, those aged over 55, higher income earners and Queenslanders.

While Nationals leader David Littleproud will champion nuclear in his LNP convention speech in Brisbane on Saturday, Mr Dutton will boost Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli’s credentials ahead of the October state election.

After Mr Crisafulli last month said he would not lift Queensland’s nuclear ban following the federal Coalition’s policy announcement, Mr Dutton will deliver a rousing endorsement of the LNP leader. Mr Dutton will describe Queensland Premier Steven Miles as a puppet of union bosses who has “simply taken over the controls of the wrecking ball from Annastacia Palaszczuk”.

“In Queensland, the economic vandalism of the Palaszczuk/Miles government is killing jobs and confidence. Queenslanders are dismayed. They’ve had enough,” he will say. “David Crisafulli will be a stable, predictable and hardworking premier. I will work with David after his election as premier to get crime under control and our economy back on track.

“David hit the nail on the head … when he said that Queensland is gripped by four big crises: A cost-of-living crisis. A youth crime crisis. A health crisis. And a housing crisis. I am optimistic that Queenslanders will deliver the LNP victory in October.”

As the Coalition and Labor ramp-up an election fight over renewables, nuclear and gas, MCA chief executive Tania Constable said “nuclear energy is our future”.

“That future begins with the simple task of removing the ban on nuclear energy under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act. It is clear Australians are increasingly embracing the concept of nuclear energy,” she said.

“There is not a modern industrial nation on Earth that has decarbonised its electricity grid at the levels net-zero requires, without majority nuclear, hydro-electricity, or a combination of both.”

Across 45 Labor, independent, Greens and Coalition seats, 40 per cent of voters support Small Modular Reactors, 23 per cent reject SMRs, 24 per cent are neutral and 13 per cent are undecided. Support for SMRs in teal and Greens seats is higher than the national average.

Ms Constable said “scaring Australians with false claims and misconceptions about the safety and the risk of nuclear” undermined the AUKUS pact, future energy needs and net zero.