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More Australians Approve Than Disapprove Of Nuclear Power Plants Although Most Concerned About Disposal Of Waste
More Australians approve (49%) than disapprove (37%) the introduction of nuclear power plants to replace coal, oil and gas power plants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while 14% can’t say, a special Morgan Poll conducted after Prime Minister John Howard announced an inquiry into the Australian uranium industry finds. However, 87% of Australians are concerned about the disposal of nuclear waste if nuclear power plants were introduced in Australia, while 12% said they are not concerned, and 1% couldn’t say. Now 54% (down 1% from 55% in April 2006) of Australians aged 14 and over, agree that Australia should continue to develop and export uranium for peaceful purposes, while 36% say we should not, and 10% can’t say. Sixty-five per cent of Australians (down 5% from 70% in October 2005) oppose expanding the three mines policy, 25% (up 2% from 23% in October 2005) agree there should be more than three mines, and 10% can’t say. Just under three-quarters (73%) of Australians say they had heard about PM Howard’s impending inquiry into the Australian uranium industry, with a similar proportion (71%) agreeing that it should proceed. Twenty-two don’t think the inquiry should go ahead, and 6% can’t say.
Special Roy Morgan Qualitative Research in which respondents gave their reason for approving or disapproving nuclear power plants replacing coal, oil and gas power plants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions found: Those who approved of the introduction of nuclear power plants into Australia cited improved technology the environmental benefits as well as its long-term viability: “I think we now have the technology to ensure that it’s safe and apart from there being a Chernobyl-type accident, it would be more efficient and globally better than the current way of doing it as far as emissions and greenhouse gases go”, “You have to keep moving forward — we have been burning coal for years, its an old technology. Nuclear technology will probably be the way of the future”, and “We’ve got to do something about cleaning up this world, when they bought oil into the world, if they had known about the world as they do now, they would’ve banned oil. Uranium is the cleanest fuel.” A number of respondents acknowledged the need to look at power production methods apart from coal, oil and gas, however, a large portion of these thought that the Government should be looking at more environmentally friendly sources of power, rather than nuclear: “I think they should look into wind power and solar power before they jump into nuclear power”, “Nuclear may be better than coal, but they should look into alternatives to nuclear power”, and “A lot of research is going into alternative methods such as solar power, wind power, and hydrogen fuel. It would be a backward step to go nuclear, even though the cost up front appears to be cheaper, in the long-term the cost of dismantling reactors would far outweigh the short-term benefits.” A number of respondents accepted that nuclear power was likely to be a source of future power, despite citing concerns surrounding its introduction: “Nuclear waste is hard to get rid of, but we need to find a replacement for our natural resources before we run out”, “It would be cleaner, but it’s the storage of the waste that’s the problem — this problem still needs to be addressed”, and “On the basis of reducing greenhouse gases I approve, but in Australia I don’t think it’s an economically viable alternative.” Opponents of the introduction of nuclear power plants are quick to cite past uranium/nuclear disasters and perceived health risks as reason enough: “I’m worried about the negative effects of uranium exposure — it can kill people”, “I don’t think enough research has been done on what they’re going to do with the waste”, and “The uranium industry has been proven to cover up its mistakes — Chernobyl, Three Mile Island — every time there is an issue, there is a cover-up. I don’t believe we know enough about treating the end product safely. It (nuclear power) may be a reality, but I’m still concerned about why this inquiry is not covering alternative means of energy — locked out for business reasons?” This special telephone Roy Morgan Survey was conducted on June 7/8, 2006, with an Australia-wide cross-section of 594 men and women aged 14 and over. More details are available on a subscription basis. For further information:
1. Should Australia Develop And Export Uranium For Peaceful Purposes? Respondents were asked: “Do you think Australia should - or should not develop and export uranium for peaceful purposes?” The percentage of Australians who think Australia "should develop and export uranium for peaceful purposes" in June 2006 (54%) is the equal-lowest (with October 2005 and April 1979) on record.
*Includes all respondents who were undecided on voting intention, plus those ineligible to vote and those aged 14-17
# Sample sizes less than 50 should be treated with caution
# Sample sizes less than 50 should be treated with caution
2. Should More Uranium Mines Operate In Australia? Respondents were then told: “At present the State Labor Governments have a policy restricting the number of uranium mines to three.” They were then asked: “In your opinion, should there be more than three uranium mines operating in Australia or not?”
*Includes all respondents who were undecided on voting intention, plus those ineligible to vote and those aged 14-17
# Sample sizes less than 50 should be treated with caution
# Sample sizes less than 50 should be treated with caution
3. Inquiry into the Australian Uranium Industry Respondents were then told: “Australia has approximately 40% of the world’s known low-cost recoverable uranium reserves. This week Prime Minister John Howard announced an inquiry into the Australian uranium industry to cover: whether more than three uranium mines should operate; the viability of enriching uranium in Australia; and the viability of building nuclear power plants in Australia.” They were then asked: “Have you read, seen or heard about the inquiry?”
*Includes all respondents who were undecided on voting intention, plus those ineligible to vote and those aged 14-17
# Sample sizes less than 50 should be treated with caution
# Sample sizes less than 50 should be treated with caution
4. Should the Uranium Inquiry Proceed? Respondents were then asked: “Do you believe the inquiry into the Australian uranium industry should proceed or not?”
*Includes all respondents who were undecided on voting intention, plus those ineligible to vote and those aged 14-17
# Sample sizes less than 50 should be treated with caution
# Sample sizes less than 50 should be treated with caution
5. Approval of Nuclear Power Plants Respondents were then asked: “Do you approve or disapprove of nuclear power plants replacing coal, oil, and gas power plants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?”
*Includes all respondents who were undecided on voting intention, plus those ineligible to vote and those aged 14-17
# Sample sizes less than 50 should be treated with caution
# Sample sizes less than 50 should be treated with caution
6. Nuclear Waste Disposal Finally, respondents were told: “A major issue that arises from nuclear power plants relates to how and where nuclear waste is disposed.” Respondents were then asked: “Are you concerned about the disposal of nuclear waste or not?”
*Includes all respondents who were undecided on voting intention, plus those ineligible to vote and those aged 14-17
# Sample sizes less than 50 should be treated with caution
# Sample sizes less than 50 should be treated with caution The Morgan Poll is conducted by the ONLY Australian and New Zealand member of No Other public opinion poll taken in Australia has this qualification. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
