Power shifts in Australia’s energy future as nuclear option gains traction

Almost half of Australians back nuclear energy for electricity generation, seeing it as a way to fight greenhouse gas emissions.

Almost half of Australians now back nuclear energy for electricity generation, as support jumps after the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal and the promotion of nuclear energy as an aid to fighting greenhouse gas emissions at the Glasgow climate change conference.

Between July and December this year, total support for nuclear energy for electricity production in Australia grew from 42 per cent to 48 per cent, while opposition fell from 36 to 33 per cent.

An Omnipoll of 1224 people taken in the first week of December, after the announcement of the nuclear submarine agreement between Australia, the UK and US, as well as the 26th Climate change conference in Glasgow, the number of people uncommitted on nuclear energy fell from 22 per cent in July to 19 per cent.

The strongest growth in backing for nuclear energy was among those aged over 65 years, up from 52 to 62 per cent, and men, up from 55 to 62 per cent.

The over 65s have traditionally been the biggest supporters of nuclear energy.

But, even among those aged 18-34 years, where traditionally there is the least support for nuclear energy, after the climate change conference’s emphasis on nuclear energy there was a rise in support from 44 to 48 per cent.

There was a small rise in opposition, from 32 to 34 per cent, while those uncommitted fell from 24 to 18 per cent.

The strongest support for nuclear energy in Australia by age is now within the over 65s and those aged 18 to 34 years.

Women were more opposed to a nuclear energy industry than men. There was no change in female opposition to nuclear energy, at 40 per cent, but there was a fall in the uncommitted from 30 to 26 per cent and a rise in support from 30 to 34 per cent.

The AUKUS agreement was announced in September, and Labor pledged to support it.

The federal government said at the same time that it had no plans to develop a nuclear industry in Australia for power generation, and Labor repeated its opposition to a domestic nuclear industry.

With the Coalition’s commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the Glasgow climate change conference and growing opposition to fossil fuels, there has been increased emphasis on nuclear power as an alternative source of energy.