Polling supports removing Australia's legislative bans on nuclear power | Media Release

Less than a third of Australians are opposed to lifting the legislative bans on power, while just under half support lifting them.

This is a key finding in YouGov research into Australia’s attitudes towards nuclear power.

Key findings from the survey, which was conducted in the shadow of a $3 million anti-nuclear scare campaign in the lead up to the 2025 election, include:

• Just one third of Australians (34%) currently oppose building nuclear power plants for electricity, with 47% already for it and 19% unsure either way.
  
  
• Less than a third of Australians (31%) oppose lifting legislative bans on nuclear power, while 46% are for lifting them and 23% are unsure.

The results confirm nuclear power was a significant focus but not a significant factor at the last election, further evidenced by the fact nuclear reactors were proposed in seven seats, none of which changed hands.

Will Shackel, founder of Nuclear for Australia, said that the numbers give confidence to the nuclear industry to continue to prosecute the case for common sense.

“This research shows that more Australians are for nuclear power than against it, and for removing legislative bans to nuclear power than opposed,” Mr Shackel said.

“It also shows a lot of people on the fence about nuclear, so we need to keep speaking with them about how nuclear is the best and only power source that can provide safe, cheap, and carbon-free baseload power.

“There are two pieces of legislation which ban nuclear power in Australia, and one – the environment act – is out for consultation right now.

“Australians want to have a conversation about lifting that ban, which would let the nuclear industry put forward applications for proper scrutiny and assessment, and make the case for safer, cleaner, cheaper and reliable baseload energy that can work in tandem with a burgeoning renewables sector.

“We also want to have the conversation with industry, with many looking at the power struggles of Whyalla Steelworks and now Tomago Aluminium, and wondering why on Earth a shut down or a bail out are the only options being discussed here.

“Australia is a nuclear nation. We already have one reactor in Sydney and within the next two decades will have eight or so floating off the coast.

“If we play our cards right, within that timeframe we will also have a supply of cheap, carbon-free nuclear power, for industry and homes, likely backing up a significant renewables and battery mix.

“If we get this wrong, we will find ourselves wondering how Australia has 9 or more nuclear reactors but didn’t have the common sense to use that workforce and know-how for cheap power as well.”

The YouGov research into Australia’s attitudes towards nuclear power was conducted between 23 and 30 October, with a total sample of 1,500 Australian voters aged 18 or higher. The margin of error was 3.2%.