Resolve Political Monitor: New poll reveals what Aussie voters think of Peter Dutton’s nuclear power plans

Aussie voters are divided on Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s nuclear power plans, according to a new poll.

While 37 per cent of voters are opposed to the idea, many have backed the shift to atomic energy, with 41 per cent seeing renewables 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 household power prices and the cheapest forms of energy, with Labor seeking to demolish the Coalition’s plan for seven nuclear power plants.

The latest poll conducted for the Sydney Morning Herald revealed that many of the 1,003 voters surveyed are willing to consider nuclear power even if they’re currently unsure, suggesting that huge numbers of voters could be swayed either way. 

But renewable projects have far stronger support with 73 per cent of people backing them, despite warnings that investment in wind and solar may weaken after Dutton promised to set up seven nuclear plants if he wins the next election.

Resolve Political Monitor found that 60 per cent of Coalition voters are in favour of nuclear power, but only only 30 per cent of Labor voters and 28 per cent of Greens supporters support the move. 

The findings revealed that 30 per cent of voters do not have a strong view on nuclear power, which suggests that 62 per cent favour or are open to atomic energy.

Anthony Albanese (picture recently with fiancee Jodie Haydon) said that developing nuclear projects when wind and solar delivered cheaper energy was ‘economic madness’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said developing nuclear projects when wind and solar delivered cheaper energy was ‘economic madness’ following claims it would cost $600 billion to build the seven nuclear plants.

The Coalition is preparing to unveil policies for gas-fired power stations and household renewable programs.

The research also found that 43 per cent of voters support using renewables as well as gas-fired power, while 33 per cent prefer the Coalition’s proposal for nuclear energy.

The remainder were undecided.  

‘This tells us that while many voters do not reject nuclear out of hand, they can favour an energy pathway that does not include it,’ Resolve director Jim Reed told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Dutton promised to set up seven nuclear plants if he wins the next election

Voters  prefer renewables over all other forms of energy, with to 84 per cent in favour of renewables in genreral.

Rooftop solar was popular among voters, but there was comparatively little support for large-scale wind farms on land.

Meanwhile, only 37 per cent favoured nuclear power when the option was listed alongside renewables and fossil fuels, only 33 per cent supported coal power.

Approximately 53 per cent of voters backed gas-fired electricity. 

The Resolve Political Monitor surveyed 1003 eligible voters from Thursday to Sunday.

The questions were put to respondents soon after the Coalition announced plans to fund seven nuclear power plants.