Australian voters are divided over opposition leader Peter Dutton’s nuclear power plans, according to a new poll.
While 37 percent of voters oppose the idea, many have supported the shift to nuclear power, with 41 percent seeing renewables as the way forward, according to the latest Resolve Political Monitor survey.
The latest findings raise the stakes for both Labor and the Coalition when federal parliament resumes on Monday.
Both parties are locked in a pre-election battle over household electricity prices and the cheapest forms of energy, with Labor seeking to quash the Coalition’s plan for seven nuclear power stations.
The latest poll for the Sydney Morning Herald found that many of the 1,003 voters surveyed are willing to consider nuclear power even if they are currently unsure, suggesting that huge numbers of voters could be influenced either way.
Australians are divided over Peter Dutton’s nuclear power plant plans, according to a new poll
But renewable projects have far more support, with 73 percent of people backing them, despite warnings that investment in wind and solar power could weaken after Dutton promised to set up seven nuclear power stations if he wins the next election.
Resolve Political Monitor found that 60 percent of Coalition voters support nuclear power, but only 30 percent of Labor voters and 28 percent of Greens supporters support the move.
The findings showed that 30 percent of voters do not have a strong opinion on nuclear energy, indicating that 62 percent are in favor or open to nuclear energy.
Anthony Albanese (recently pictured with fiancée Jodie Haydon) said developing nuclear projects while wind and solar provided cheaper energy was ‘economic madness’
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said developing nuclear projects when wind and solar provided cheaper energy was “economic madness”, after claims it would cost $600 billion to build the seven nuclear power stations.
The coalition is preparing to unveil policies for gas-fired power plants and sustainable programs for households.
The survey also found that 43 percent of voters support the use of renewables and gas-fired power, while 33 percent favor the coalition’s nuclear proposal.
The rest was still undecided.
“What this tells us is that while many voters may not reject nuclear energy outright, they may prefer an energy path that does not include it,” Resolve director Jim Reed told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Dutton promised to set up seven nuclear power stations if he won the next election
Voters favor renewable energy sources over all other forms of energy, with 84 percent in favor of renewable energy sources in general.
Rooftop solar was popular among voters, but there was relatively little support for large-scale onshore wind farms.
Meanwhile, only 37 percent favored nuclear power when the option was listed alongside renewables and fossil fuels, while only 33 percent favored coal power.
About 53 percent of voters were in favor of gas-fired electricity.
The Resolve Political Monitor surveyed 1,003 eligible voters from Thursday to Sunday.
The questions were posed to respondents shortly after the coalition announced plans to finance seven nuclear power plants.