Tuesday 17 December 2024
Polling released today has found that Western Australians firmly reject the federal Coalition’s plan for nuclear reactors.*
The polling results will be presented on Tuesday to the public hearing in Perth of the Federal Parliament’s Select Committee on Nuclear Energy.
The federal Coalition is advocating for reactors at seven sites around Australia, including untested small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) at WA’s regional centre Collie, half-way between Perth and Margaret River.
The poll of 1007 Western Australians found that -
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74% of Western Australians prefer wind and solar farms firmed with batteries and storage for WA over nuclear (15%) and coal (11%);
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66% of Western Australians think sun and wind energy firmed with storage like batteries should continue to be expanded. Only 19% prefer the extension of coal and gas with nuclear reactors coming online in 15-20 years;
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70% of Western Australians say wind and solar farms firmed with batteries and other storage will bring down power bills fastest, as opposed to nuclear (16%) and coal (14%);
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73% of Western Australians believe that wind and solar firmed with storage like batteries and pumped hydro would be the safest form of energy generation for WA as climate impacts such as fire, flood and drought worsen (nuclear 14%, coal 13%), and
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a majority of Western Australians (59%) believe nuclear reactors would damage WA’s reputation as a world class holiday destination.
*Polling conducted 9-13 December, Western Australians only, n=1007.
“These results show that Western Australians resoundingly prefer solar and wind energy over nuclear reactors, which would slow down the roll-out of renewable energy projects” said Michelle Grady, of Solutions for Climate WA.
“Western Australians know that renewable energy will bring down their power bills fastest, that sun and wind is the safest form of energy as climate impacts like fire, flood and drought take hold, and the majority believe nuclear reactors would damage WA’s reputation as a world class holiday destination.
“Importantly, the Collie nuclear reactor was not mentioned at all in Frontier Economics’ report for the federal Coalition, leaving it completely uncosted and demonstrating a lack of transparency about the Coalition’s real plans for Collie,” said Ms Grady.
“The Coalition’s uncosted plans for Collie can only be described as irresponsible and reckless. Nuclear is too slow, too expensive, it is dangerous for workers, communities and the environment and leaves a lasting problem of high-level nuclear waste which no country has yet solved,” said Mia Pepper of the Conservation Council of WA.
“West Australians have shown time and again that the energy future we want is renewable, not radioactive,” concluded Ms Pepper.
"Peter Dutton's nuclear fantasy puts at risk our timely transition to a thriving decarbonised economy with safe and secure clean energy jobs. Workers in WA cannot afford the expensive and dangerous thought bubbles of the Coalition,” said Rikki Hendon, UnionsWA Secretary.
“Nuclear does not play well with solar, flooding WA with unnecessary electricity at the same as WA’s solar homes are producing electricity. Up to half a million WA families could have their solar shut off under Peter Dutton’s SolarStopper nuclear proposal,” said John Grimes, Chief Executive of the Smart Energy Council.
“The majority of Western Australians see through the Coalition’s nuclear nonsense, and know that renewable energy is the safest energy source, and the key to reducing our energy bills the fastest,” said Geoff Bice, WA Campaign Lead for Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
“WA is not only rich in wind, sunshine, and the deep industrial expertise needed to make us a renewables-based powerhouse, but our beautiful natural treasures like the Ningaloo Reef, southern forests and wildflowers also make us a sought-after tourist destination. The Coalition’s nuclear plans make no sense for WA and would be a wrecking ball to the growth of a green economy, the safety of our communities, and our chance at a liveable climate for future generations—they should be consigned to the rubbish bin of history."
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Contact details:
Phil O'Donoghue - UnionsWA: 0417 923 029
Jesse Noakes - CCWA: 0401 233 965
