Most Australians want a nuclear power industry to cut emissions by replacing coal-fired power stations, but politicians aren’t on board.
According to a poll, 53% of Australians support developing nuclear power plants to provide electricity and reduce emissions, while only 23% oppose it.
Even Green voters, whose party is essentially opposed to it, are warming to the concept, with 44% in favor vs 30% opposed.
The nuclear option also received 70% acceptance from Coalition voters, with only 13% opposing it, and 52% approval from Labor supporters, with only 27% opposing it.
Daniel Wild, head of research at the Institute of Public Affairs, a right-wing think tank that commissioned the report, said lawmakers should work together on the issue.
‘Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton should work together to repeal Australia’s nuclear power ban, which can offer low-cost, reliable base-load power,’ he said.
Although there are evidence that the Coalition will consider nuclear power as a source of clean energy, there has been no sign of a policy shift from Labor or the Greens, who hold the balance of power.
In their policy statements, the Greens declare they want a world free of nuclear power and the cessation of Australian uranium mining and exports.
Greens leader Adam Bandt said last year that the Morrison Government’s decision to buy nuclear submarines put ‘floating Chernobyls’ in the heart of major cities.
The Greens control 10 seats in the Senate after increasing their numbers at the election, giving them the balance of power and ability to block legislation unless both major parties agree to it.
However, in Finland the Green Party voted to endorse nuclear power as a low-emissions energy source.
Nationals Leader David Littleproud has argued high energy prices are a result of the climate change net zero emissions by 2050 target.
He claimed that Australia needs to have a discussion on nuclear power, claiming that the public’s fear of the power source was unjustified and fueled by a cartoon.
Mr Littepround told Sky News that “we did significant polling and recognized that it wasn’t as popular because… people were getting their information from what they saw on Chernobyl, Fukushima, and even The Simpsons.”
‘There’s a stigma associated with nuclear power… ‘Cartoons have inscribed themselves into mythology.’
On Monday, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the Coalition would consider removing Australia’s nuclear power ban.
‘I’m not frightened to have a nuclear debate if we want to have credible emissions reductions and reduce electricity prices, which is precisely the road that [French] President Macron is taking.
Skyrocketing electricity bills, caused by outages at coal-fired power plants, the cold weather, and a gas shortage, are pushing Australian homes to breaking point.
Chris Bowen, the federal minister of climate change and energy, is in a rush to meet with state counterparts to discuss the rising cost of gas.
Mr Johnson recently declared that the United Kingdom would construct eight new nuclear power stations, with one being completed each year to lessen the country’s reliance on gas.
The IPA’s poll was conducted in April and surveyed more than 1,000 Australians on their attitudes to nuclear power.