* Linking nuclear power to climate change mitigation without mentioning the downsides and costs of nuclear power, or perhaps better alternative ways to address climate change.
*Ask respondents whether they supportadvanced“Nuclear power?”latest nuclear technologyThe number of „advanced“ nuclear power plants is small, and they are not really „advanced“ in any meaningful sense, nor do they even mention that in some cases they are. Used to power fossil fuel extraction or increase the risk of weapons proliferation.
* Reporting poll results without clarifying what the actual survey question was.
* Avoid the word „nuclear“ by referring to small modular nuclear reactors, or avoid the word reactor by using expressions such as „the latest in nuclear energy technology.“
*Using the word „small“ as in „small modular reactor“: Expect to see more of this. spectacular implosion It is part of the NuScale project in Idaho, the most advanced SMR project in the United States.
* Reporting self-selected online polls as if the results were meaningful. For example, Australian scholar Oscar Archer be moved By the meaningless ABC poll, the meaningless Murdoch tabloid poll, and the meaningless Channel 7 Sunrise poll.
Australian Conservative party falls into push polls
Partly because of the Murdoch media's promotion of nuclear power and its aggressive public opinion polls, the opposition party of the Union for Freedom and People's Union said,pledged' aims to bring nuclear power to Australia by the mid-2030s, if Australia wins an election and forms a government by next May at the latest.
The Coalition believes most Australians support nuclear power, younger Australians are particularly enthusiastic and that local communities would welcome nuclear power plants. The problem is that those views are supported by nothing more than prejudice. push polling.
fair poll It turns out that support for nuclear power generation in Australia does not reach a majority. Australians support renewable energy to a far greater extent than nuclear, with nuclear being one of the least popular energy sources. The majority do not want nuclear reactors built near where they live. And most Australians are concerned about nuclear accidents and nuclear waste.
Even the result of the push vote should raise red flags for the coalition. 2019 Roy Morgan poll Prior to the poll question, he made the following highly questionable claim: „Many have suggested that if carbon concerns are a real issue, the cleanest energy source Australia can use is nuclear power.“
Despite that blatant attempt to sway respondents, only a 51% majority expressed support for nuclear power.
Locals are 'hostile'
The coalition has not yet formally announced its nuclear policy, but it is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. But this policy has already been disastrous for the Coalition, with almost zero support outside of the Coalition's far-right and far-right media, particularly the Murdoch Sky echo chamber.
Australian public opinion polls have shown clear and consistent opposition to locally built nuclear power plants for more than 20 years.a 2019 Essential Voting Twenty-eight percent of respondents said they could comfortably live near a nuclear power plant, while 60 percent disagreed.
The coalition is proposing to replace decommissioned coal-fired power plants with nuclear reactors and is hoping for an enthusiastic response from local communities. „Coalition Sources“ Said Mr Murdoch reported that members of his coalition government were „confident that people would line up“ for the reactor.
However, recent focus group surveys conducted in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales and the Latrobe Valley in Victoria (two of the coal regions that could be targeted) found that votershostile” will be reflected in the nuclear reactor plan for the region.
Local hostility is just one of the problems facing the Coalition's nuclear policy. Coalition MPs have said repeatedly that Australia's nuclear development needs bipartisan support. However, nuclear power is not supported by Labor and faces strong resistance from within the coalition government.
Indeed, in most of the four states with operating coal-fired power plants and likely to be targeted by coal-fired power plans – Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia – bipartisan Opposed to nuclear power generation.Labor state governments in these four states oppose nuclear power in each state, and the Liberal/Coalition opposition leader opposed Either you support nuclear power or you don't support it.
colorful explanation
Tony Barry – former Victorian Liberal Party deputy state secretary and strategist, currently director of research and consulting firm Redbridge – I will explain The Coalition's decision to put nuclear power at the center of energy and climate policy was „the longest suicide note in Australian political history“.
Building on Redbridge's detailed analysis of Australian attitudes to nuclear power, Barry said: To tell Only 35 per cent of Australians support nuclear power, with only coal being less popular. If there's a chance the Coalition will win the next election, he says, it won't be on nuclear power.
Anonymous Coalition MPs also provided colorful commentary to Murdoch journalists. One Coalition MP said that nuclear policy was „madness on steroids„, another To tell Liberal and National party chambers are „panicking“ and „don't know what to do“ about nuclear policy. Another person said that nuclear policy is “madness”,
Former Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull I will explain Nuclear policy is a „strange thing.''he To tell Nuclear power's only usefulness is „as another culture war issue for the right-wing engetainment ecosystem, and as a way to support fossil fuels by slowing and distracting from the introduction of renewable energy.“ Yes, nuclear power is a solid renewable energy source that is „exactly what we don't need.'' ” Mr Turnbull said ultra-conservative Coalition leader Peter Dutton “thug„Those who say“vulgar thing” About nuclear power. With those friends…
NSW Liberal MP and former Deputy Prime Minister Matt Kean said: state: „I view defense of nuclear power not only as contrary to the public interest on environmental, engineering, and economic grounds, but also as a defense of responsible and decisive action against climate change in a way that increases power.“ We also see this as an attempt to delay and postpone action.'' Delays in renewable energy will increase prices in New South Wales. ”
John Hewson, former federal Liberal leader To tell Dutton's opposition party has become „ridiculous“ with its pro-nuclear, anti-renewable energy stance, which is economically „nonsense“, Dutton said, „We know that eventually nuclear power will become too expensive. „We may be promoting nuclear power on behalf of large fossil fuel donors.“ It would take too long to implement and would increase Australia's dependence on coal and natural gas. ”
Nuclear power is a 'dog whistle to climate change deniers'
This irony reflects concerns about the Union. Opposition It is in line with the federal Labor government's target of 82% renewable energy by 2030, and the Coalition's plans to expand gas and extend the use of coal. The Nationals are calling for moratorium Regarding the introduction of large-scale renewable energy.
Economist Professor John Quiggin Note In fact, he says that support for nuclear power in Australia is support for coal, and describes the defense of nuclear power in Australia as follows: Dog whistle for climate deniers.
There are also divisions in the right-wing echo chambers of Murdoch and Sky.Murdoch media editor To tell The coalition's nuclear policy is „utter madness“ and „madness…complete madness.“
AGL Energy, Alinta, EnergyAustralia and Origin Energy are Australia's leading private power generation companies. fired Nuclear energy as a viable power source for customers.a senior executive To tell If nuclear development continues, electricity costs will triple.Industry is not interested, but labor unions are. overwhelmingly opposed.
Australia's chief scientist opposes the introduction of nuclear power to Australia, as do at least two former Australian chief scientists and the chief scientist of New South Wales.
Recent investigation The Climate Investor Group asked leading institutional investors with $37 trillion under management which energy and climate solutions they believe will deliver long-term benefits.Nuclear power ranks in last Of the 14 options, renewable energy comes first.
history repeats
In the mid-2000s, as Liberal Prime Minister John Howard promoted nuclear power, but Conservatives hoped the policy would cause divisions within the Labor Party and the environmental movement.
Neither Labor nor the environmental movement was split, but at least 22 Coalition candidates publicly distanced themselves from the Howard government's nuclear policy during the 2007 election. Howard lost his seat, the Coalition lost the election, and the nuclear policy was immediately abolished.
We may be witnessing history repeat itself with Peter Dutton's reckless nuclear push.
Labor MPs can't believe their luck.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaking in Parliament compared Peter Dutton says of nuclear reactors: „One is risky, expensive, divisive and toxic. That's what we certainly intend to do.''
this author
Dr. Jim Green is a national nuclear activist and friends of the earth australia with members of Nuclear consulting group.