Australian voters are divided over opposition leader Peter Dutton’s nuclear energy plans, according to a new poll.
While 37 percent of voters oppose the idea, many have backed the switch to atomic energy, and 41 percent see renewable energy as the way forward, according to the latest Resolve Political Monitor poll.
The latest findings raise the stakes for both Labor and the Coalition when federal parliament resumes on Monday.
Both sides are locked in a pre-election battle over domestic energy prices and the cheapest forms of energy, with Labor seeking to demolish the Coalition’s plan for seven nuclear power plants.
The last survey carried out for the Sydney Morning Herald revealed that many of the 1,003 voters surveyed are willing to consider nuclear energy even if they are currently unsure, suggesting that a large number of voters could be swayed in either direction.
Australians divided over Peter Dutton’s nuclear power plans, new poll finds
But renewable projects have much greater support: 73 per cent of people back them, despite warnings that investment in wind and solar could weaken after Dutton promised to install seven nuclear plants if he wins the next election. .
Resolve Political Monitor found that 60 per cent of Coalition voters favor nuclear power, but only 30 per cent of Labor voters and 28 per cent of Greens supporters support the measure.
The results revealed that 30 percent of voters do not have a strong opinion on nuclear energy, suggesting that 62 percent are in favor of or open to atomic energy.
Anthony Albanese (pictured recently with his fiancée Jodie Haydon) said developing nuclear projects when wind and solar were delivering cheaper power was “economic folly”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said developing nuclear projects when wind and solar provided cheaper energy was “economic folly” after claiming it would cost $600 billion to build the seven nuclear plants.
The Coalition is preparing to unveil policies for gas-fired power plants and home renewable energy programs.
The research also found that 43 per cent of voters support the use of renewable energy in addition to gas-fired power, while 33 per cent prefer the Coalition’s proposal for nuclear power.
The rest were undecided.
“This tells us that while many voters don’t reject nuclear power outright, they may favor an energy path that doesn’t include it,” Resolve director Jim Reed told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Dutton promised to install seven nuclear plants if he wins the next election.
Voters prefer renewable energy over all other forms of energy, with 84 percent favoring renewable energy overall.
Rooftop solar was popular with voters, but there was comparatively 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, and only 33 percent supported coal power.
About 53 percent of voters supported gas-fired electricity.
The Resolve Political Monitor surveyed 1,003 eligible voters Thursday through Sunday.
The questions were asked of respondents shortly after the Coalition announced plans to fund seven nuclear power plants.