Opinion Polls
A McNair Gallup poll on the construction of nuclear power plants in Australia was carried out in 1979. The same poll was conducted again 28 years later in 2007 on 1,000 randomly selected people throughout Australia. A new poll was asked in 2009 which marked the first time that more people support nuclear power than oppose it. The support for nuclear power is still in a plurality not an outright majority . Respondents were asked the following question:
| “Do you favour or oppose the construction of nuclear power stations in Australia?” | 1979 | 2007 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Favour | 34% | 41% | 49% |
| Oppose | 56% | 53% | 43% |
| Don’t Know | 10% | 6% | 8% |
The 1979 poll was conducted soon after the Three Mile Island Unit 2 (TMI-2) nuclear power plant accident located near Pennsylvania USA where a sequence of events lead to the partial meltdown of the TMI-2 reactor core.
Opposition to the construction of nuclear power plants in the 2007 poll was strongest amongst females, Greens supporters and Australians aged 18–29 and 40-49.
| Do you favour or oppose the construction of nuclear power stations in Australia? | TOTAL | ALP | Coalition | Greens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Favour | 41% | 30% | 59% | 22% |
| Oppose | 53% | 66% | 34% | 78% |
| Don't Know | 6% | 4% | 7% | 0% |
The McNair Gallup Poll showed a significant difference in opinion between ALP, Coalition and Green supporters, and moderate differences by gender. Men were more likely to favour the construction of nuclear power stations (55%), with twice as many males in favour of the construction of nuclear power plants in Australia than women. 41% of men were more likely to oppose the construction of nuclear power plants in Australia. In contrast, 65% of women were more likely to oppose the construction of nuclear power plants in Australia, while 28% favour the construction of nuclear power plants.
Read more about this topic: Nuclear Power In Australia
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