Nuclear Power Plants McNair Gallup Poll

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The use of nuclear energy as a major power source in Australia had been heavily debated. A McNair Gallup poll [1] 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 by McNair Ingenuity Research [2], using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing on 1,000 randomly selected people throughout Australia. Respondents were asked the following question:

“Do you favour or oppose the construction of nuclear power stations in Australia?”	1979	2007
Favour	34%	41%
Oppose	56%	53%
Don’t Know	10%	6%

The 1979 McNair Gallup poll found 56% of Australians were opposed to the construction of nuclear power plants in Australia, while 34% of Australians were in favour and 10% were uncommitted. The 2007 McNair Gallup poll found 53% of Australians were opposed, 41% were in favour of the construction of Nuclear power plants and 6% were uncommitted.

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 reactor core^[1].

The worst nuclear disaster in history occurred in 1986 the Chernobyl disaster, when reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded resulting in a nuclear meltdown and a succession of explosions^[2]. It seems from the 2007 McNair Gallup poll that the need to consider nuclear power as an alternative energy source overrides any concern that events such as the Chernobyl disaster will be repeated with more Australians conceding the need for nuclear power plants to be built in Australia.

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^[3].

The 2007 results contradict Labor’s Environmental spokesman, Peter Garrett’s claim that “Australians are very clear that they don’t want nuclear energy and nuclear power in this country.”^[4] With 41% of Australians in favour for the construction of nuclear power plants.^[5]

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. An overwhelming 78% of Green voters were opposed to the construction of nuclear power plants in Australia. In contrast, 34% of Coalition voters were likely to oppose the construction of nuclear power plants. The poll revealed that 59% of Coalition voters favoured the construction of nuclear power stations in Australia compared with only 30% of Labor voters.

According to the 2007 poll there were variations in opinion between the states. The strongest opposition for the construction of nuclear power stations in Australia was in Western Australia (59%) and Queensland (59%). Support for the construction of Nuclear power plants was strongest in ACT/NT where 61% of respondents said they would support the construction of nuclear power plants in Australia. Support of the construction of nuclear power plants in Australia was also strong amongst NSW respondents with 46% in favour. Both South Australia and Tasmania were closely behind the other states^[6].

Do you favour or oppose the construction of nuclear power stations in Australia?	TOTAL	WA	SA	QLD	TAS*	VIC	NSW	ACT/NT*
Favour	41%	33%	35%	36%	39%	42%	46%	61%
Oppose	53%	59%	57%	59%	53%	52%	50%	39%
Don't Know	6%	8%	8%	5%	8%	6%	5%	0%

*Caution, small sample size

The 2007 McNair Gallup poll found differences in responses between men and women. 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. Forty one percent 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.

The poll also found significant differences in views amongst the various age groups. A third of Australians aged 18-29 and 40-49 were least likely to support the construction of nuclear power stations.

Do you favour or oppose the construction of nuclear power stations in Australia?	Male	Female	Age 18-29	Age 30-39	Age 40-49	Age 50-59	Age 60+
Favour	55%	28%	35%	42%	36%	39%	53%
Oppose	41%	65%	60%	50%	62%	56%	41%
Don't Know	4%	7%	6%	8%	3%	6%	6%

The McNair Gallup poll and other comparable research have indicated that while most Australians are opposed to the construction of nuclear power plants, in 2007 still two fifths of the Australian population were in favour of the construction of nuclear power plants.

[edit] External Links

• AMSRS
• McNair Ingenuity Research
• Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation ‘Australia’s Nuclear power and nuclear science options 2005 and beyond’
• Australian Conservation Foundation- Is nuclear power part of Australia’s global warming solutions?
• Australian Institute of Energy ‘Nuclear Power in Australia- Why, whether and how’
• Washington Post ‘Three Mile Island’
• The United Nations ‘A unified message of hope for Chernobyl-affected communities’
• The United Nations ‘History of the United Nations and Chernobyl’
• The Australian Conservation Foundation ‘Dr Jim Green- Nuclear Power No Solution to Climate Change’

[edit] See Also

• Changing needs for the future McNair Gallup Poll
• Energy Sources McNair Gallup Poll
• Recycle our Water McNair Gallup Poll
• Happiness Index
• Health, Education and the Environment- McNair Gallup Poll
• Australian Market and Social Research Society Limited
• Ian McNair
• History of Australian Market Research
• McNair Ingenuity Research

[edit] References