Poll shows majority of Aussies support nuclear power plan

Six in 10 Australians say they support nuclear energy as a part of the nation’s energy mix, in a boost for Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s ambitious plan to build seven power plants by 2050.

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Six in 10 Australians say they support nuclear energy as a part of the nation’s energy mix, in a boost for Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s ambitious plan to build seven power plants by 2050.

A snapshot survey of 923 randomly selected people conducted by The Courier-Mail across the weekend after the Coalition announced its energy plan found about 60 per cent of voters believed nuclear power “has a place” in Australia’s future energy mix.

Mr Dutton last week announced if elected he would pursue a plan to build seven nuclear plants at the sites of retiring coal-fired power stations, including Queensland’s South Burnett and Gladstone regions, the Latrobe Valley in Victoria, Hunter Valley in NSW and Port Augusta in South Australia.

The survey included just over 100 people on average in each of these five regional areas, plus 100 people in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane.

The Coalition wants to build seven nuclear plants at the sites of retiring coal-fired power stations.

In every location except Melbourne, there was majority support for an Australian nuclear energy industry, but this backing fell away when respondents were specifically asked if they would be comfortable with a nuclear reactor being built in their region.

Those surveyed in the South Burnett towns of Nanango and Yarraman were 71 per cent in favour of nuclear generally and 62 per cent supportive of a plant at the nearby Tarong coal-fired power site.

In the remote Queensland town of Biloela, which is near the current Callide coal power station, 61 per cent of surveyed residents backed nuclear and 54 per cent backed a plant in the region.

In the capital cities there was majority support for nuclear in Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide, but in Melbourne 61 per cent of respondents were against Australia developing the energy source.

The voting intentions of the almost 1000 people surveyed was not recorded, but when asked how Mr Dutton’s nuclear policy impacted their likelihood of supporting the Coalition at the next federal election, the national average was only 38 per cent more likely, with the majority saying they would be less inclined to vote for him.

Meanwhile, a poll of 1000 Australians conducted by Resolve Strategic for Nine Newspapers at the weekend found voters were divided on nuclear, with 41 per cent of voters backing the Coalition’s plan, while 37 per cent rejected the idea.

About 30 per cent of people did not have a strong view on nuclear and were open to investigating the option, meaning there are many voters either Labor or the Coalition may be able to persuade to their side on the issue.

The poll showed renewable projects had a clear majority of supporters, with 73 per cent of voters in favour.

‘GOOD FOR THE TOWN’

For Biloela publican Steve Kerswell, anything that brings jobs to his town is a good thing – even if it means a nuclear power plant in his back yard.

The manager of the Commercial Hotel believes a plant at Callide would be “great for the economy”.

“Callide Power Station has a shelf life anyway,” he said

“At some stage it will be replaced or shut down.

“Anything that brings investment, infrastructure, and employment into the community is a great idea.”

Opinions at the local watering hole were largely positive.

Customers and Biloela residents Ann Maree Wise and Dave Clark agreed nuclear power was a good thing.

“I just think it’s something that if we have got the resources to power the nuclear site without buying it from another country, why not supply the uranium and do our own power,” Mr Clark said.

“It will be good for the town.

“There will be jobs.”

Kenny Selwyn, who hails from Biloela but currently lives in Gladstone, would also like to see a plant built in the area “to keep a lot of local jobs in town”.

“It would be good to see one near Biloela to keep a lot of people in town around their families and happy,” he said.

However, Rockhampton’s Dylan Young and Aiden Brown, who had stopped in to the pub for lunch, said they were against nuclear power and “we have done fine without it”.

“I don’t agree with it,” Mr Young said.

Out in the town’s main street, opinions were split.

Biloela resident Alison Tanskanen said “I don’t think we need it”.

“Isn’t it enough with the Callide Power Station?” she questioned.

Blake Denniss of Biloela with son Harrison, 3. Picture: Steve Vit

Barry Hoare, from Moura, said there had been issues with the Callide Power Station and a nuclear power plant “should have been initiated one or two decades ago”.

“I don’t have a problem with there being one,” he said, adding he still believed there should be more of a focus on gas-fired power.

Dave Camplin, also from Moura, said a nuclear power plant was not something he wanted to see.

But Biloela’s Garry Matheson was for a nuclear power plant built near the town he had lived in for 70 years.

“They close our coal mines, they close our power station Biloela will die,” he said.

“It’s as simple as that.

“I believe in nuclear energy.

“I didn’t back in the ’70s but I do now.

“They know what they are doing with it more and the dangers are a lot less.”

Biloela father Blake Denniss was for nuclear power and a plant being built near the town.

“I think it is the way to go,” he said.

Biloela mum Anais McMillan wasn’t not keen on nuclear power as a concept in general and/or project for her town.

“It’s too close for comfort,” she said.

“There’s not enough information.

“Coal-fired power all the way.”

In council quarters, nuclear energy has been on the lips of leaders in the resource-rich region for some time.

Walking the streets with this publication on Friday, Banana Shire mayor Neville Ferrier said safety was the priority.

“We were already thinking about it before the last few months,” he said.

“As a council we have got to make sure it is safe and that everybody understands the risk if there is any.

“We had already made arrangements to have a nuclear expert come here and talk to the council.

“We did that a few months ago and they will be here in a few weeks time.

“We will get the right information from an expert and go from there.”

Vice president of the Callide Dawson Chamber of Commerce and local barber Steve Bates was all for nuclear power in Australia and a plant at Callide.

“I think it is a wonderful technology that can advance us into the future and I wouldn’t have any problem having one built outside my town here,” he said.

Yarraman beef producer/graingrower/peanut farmer Bill Holmes with son Bryce Holmes. Picture: David Martinelli

‘SEEMS THE WAY TO GO’

Bill and Bryce Holmes’ properties could be just a few kilometres from Queensland’s next nuclear power station – but that isn’t necessarily an issue for the fifth-generation farmer and boilermaker.

“As long as all the standards are kept, I don’t think it would be a problem,” Bryce said.

“I’d a like a little bit more assurance about how it works and explained (but) as far as reliable energy, it seems to be the way to go.”

The pair are among the hundreds of residents in and around Yarraman and Nanango dealing with the very real prospect of living near a nuclear reactor, which was put on the cards last week by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and the Coalition.

Tarong Power Station in the South Burnett, which is just 10km from the Toowoomba region border, is one of seven sites across Australia earmarked for new nuclear sites by 2050.

Mr Holmes, who owns an engineering business that backs onto his father Bill’s livestock and peanut farm in Yarraman, said he wanted to see a more drawn-out transition from coal to alternative energy sources.

“Solar and wind farms, that’s all good when the wind’s blowing, but when it’s not good, when it’s not blowing for half a day (that’s an issue),” he said.

“We’ve got to change, but we don’t need to do it in such a big dramatic way.

“Trying to change it in a couple of years, it’s a big thing, it should be spread out over 10 years.”

Drayton St in the Nanango township. Picture: David Martinelli

Originally published as Poll shows majority of Aussies support nuclear power plan