May 1, 2025

by Anne Miller

Do local residents support a nuclear future for the South Burnett?

Nationals Leader David Littleproud has repeated several times that polling in the area supports the construction of a nuclear power station at Tarong.

From anecdotal comments, we were not so sure.

In an attempt to test the waters, southburnett.com.au suggested to a local business association that an independent poll be conducted (at least of their members).

Sadly, we could not convince them to take up this idea. It was probably considered too controversial in the lead-up to a Federal Election.

So, in a very unscientific way, we decided to launch our own survey … a SurveyMonkey poll that we posted on our Facebook page which has more than 10,700 followers

This approach, obviously, has problems from the outset.

First up, it is only polling people who actually see the link on Facebook and bother to click through.

And Facebook demographics – at least on the pages that we manage – are also skewed towards a female and older demographic, so the poll could not reach enough people in all age groups to be truly representative.

Even so, we believe the results are interesting, and worth recording.

* * *

According to Facebook statistics, the SurveyMonkey poll was shown in the feeds of 4016 people, 79 per cent of whom were followers of the southburnett.com.au page (and thus, we can assume, local residents) and 21 per cent non-followers (it was shared by some commenters).

We asked seven questions, each offering a choice of answers.

People could only reply to the survey once (unless they did some geeky things to their computers or phones).

Here are the results:

Q1. What is your postcode?  NB. These are the postcodes for Kingaroy, Nanango and Yarraman, the towns closest to Tarong Power Station.

A. 4610 (54.94%); 4615 (28.40%); 4614 (5.56%); Other (11.1%)

Q2. Do you support the construction of a nuclear reactor or reactors for electricity generation at the site of the current Tarong and Tarong North coal-fired power stations?

A. Yes (46.01%); No (46.63%); I don’t have enough information (7.36%)

Q3. If a nuclear reactor or reactors were to be built at Tarong, where should the high-level radioactive waste be stored?

A. On site at Tarong, it will save the risk of transporting it elsewhere (16.03%); On site at Tarong, but only until a deep, underground storage facility is built elsewhere in Australia (33.33%); In the Central Australian desert (22.44%); Export it (28.21%)

Q4. If a Coalition Government is elected in 2025, and decides to build a nuclear power generation plant at Tarong, when would you expect it to start generating electricity?

A. 5 years (21.02%); 10 years (21.66%); 15 years (14.01%); 20 years (15.29%); 25 years (28.03%)

Q5. Do you believe climate change is real?

A. Yes, it’s obvious the climate is in crisis and society must adapt (40.12%); Yes, but I don’t believe the use of fossil fuels is causing the problem (20.37%); No, it’s a media beat-up (7.41%); No, companies and individuals are profiting from fear (32.10%)

Q6. How do you intend to vote at the next Federal Election?

A. Australian Greens (4.29%); Australian Labor Party (19.63%); Liberal National Party (26.38%); Pauline Hanson’s One Nation (11.04%); Other (8.59%); Prefer not to answer (30.06%)

Q7. What is your age?

A. Under 18 (0%); 18-24 (2.45%); 25-34 (6.75%); 35-44 (14.72%); 45-54 (19.63%); 55-64 (21.47%); 65+ (31.29%); Prefer not to answer (3.68%).

Footnote: This survey was not sponsored by anyone, and paid for by South Burnett Online.

* * *

University Polling

And now the results of a more scientific poll, released by Griffith and Monash universities on Thursday.

A survey conducted by Griffith University’s Climate Action Beacon in partnership with the Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub asked more than 4000 respondents from across Australia a wide range of questions on their attitudes to climate change, extreme weather and different energy options.

Griffith University Associate Professor Kerrie Foxwell-Norton and Monash University Professor Libby Lester were lead collaborators in the survey, which is now in its fourth year.

Among the key initial findings:

  • More Australians want the existing ban on nuclear power to remain

In 2023, 51 per cent wanted to keep Australia’s ban on nuclear energy. In 2024, that had risen to 59 per cent. The numbers who were against bans on nuclear power fell from 34 per cent in 2023 to 30 per cent in 2024.

  • Women are more likely to want to keep the current ban on nuclear

When asked about keeping the existing Australian ban on using nuclear power, only 18 per cent of women were in favour of lifting the ban. In contrast, twice as many men (35.9 per cent) wanted the ban lifted. Two-thirds (66 per cent) of women wanted the ban to stay, as opposed to just 51 per cent of men.

  • More people say risks of nuclear power far outweigh the benefits

Those who said the benefits of nuclear power far outweighed the risks fell from 24.5 per cent support in 2023 to 22 per cent in 2024. Those who said the risks of nuclear power far outweighed the benefits rose from 21.9 per cent in 2023 to 26 per cent in 2024.

  • Most respondents would not want a nuclear power station in their area

More than half (54.8 per cent) of respondents would be very or extremely concerned if a nuclear power plant was placed near them. Only 11 per cent said they would be comfortable with a nuclear power plant nearby. Even fewer wanted a coal mine near them (10.8 per cent). Conversely, people felt more comfortable with solar or wind in their area, with 54 per cent having no concerns with wind farms. This rose to 65 per cent for solar farms.

  • Most Australians back financial assistance for coal-mining communities to transition and for rural landowners to host clean energy infrastructure

Eighty-one per cent of respondents said they would support assistance to communities relying on coal mining, and 84 per cent supported the distribution of financial incentives to rural landowners for hosting clean energy structures.

  • Support to phase out gas for all new homes and public buildings is increasing

Sixty per cent of respondents said they would support a requirement that all new homes, residential divisions and public buildings be powered by electricity, thereby phasing out gas appliances and heating, up from 59 per cent in 2023.

Read more Editorial columns

Related articles: 

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.