New polling reveals majority of Australians support nuclear energy
Nuclear for Australia
*** Spokespeople are available for comment ***
Thursday 22 October 2026
Almost two-thirds of Australians believe nuclear power should be part of the nation's energy future, as new polling reveals growing concerns about Australia's ability to meet its electricity needs.
New YouGov research commissioned by Nuclear for Australia has found that 63% of Australians believe nuclear power should be considered, while 60% believe it will form part of Australia's future energy mix.
The findings come as both the demand for and cost of electricity grows, driven by AI, data centres and electrification, while the ongoing conflict in the Middle East contributes to uncertainty in global energy markets.
Key findings from the poll of 1,550 eligible Australian voters, undertaken 6-12 October 2026, include:
- 63% believe Australia should consider nuclear power, including almost half (48%) of Labor voters.
- 60% believe nuclear power will be part of Australia's future energy mix, including 54% of Labor voters, 70% of Coalition voters and 50% of Greens voters.
- 59% support developing nuclear power in Australia to strengthen the nation's energy sovereignty.
- 57% are not confident Australia's existing electricity options can meet growing demand from artificial intelligence, data centres and electrification.
- 56% support removing Australia's legislative restrictions to allow nuclear energy to be considered.
Nuclear for Australia Founder Will Shackel said the results highlighted the need for a mature, fact-based national conversation about Australia's energy future.
“This polling overwhelmingly shows that Australians want all energy options on the table, including nuclear,” Mr Shackel said.
“Almost two-thirds of Australians believe nuclear energy deserves to be considered, yet Federal legislative bans prevent us from even having that conversation.
“More than half of Australians are not confident our existing energy options will be enough to meet growing electricity demand. That should be a wake-up call for policymakers.
“In an increasingly uncertain world, energy sovereignty matters more than ever. Australia needs an affordable, reliable and clean energy grid to support its economy and attract investment in AI and data centres.
“Nuclear energy is not about choosing between nuclear and renewables. It's about making sure Australia has the energy mix it needs for the future. Nuclear is the only carbon-free baseload option to support renewables.
The poll reveals common ground across political lines: 48% of Labor voters and 44% of Greens voters believe nuclear should be considered, while 54% of Labor voters expect it to form part of our future energy mix.
Further, it demonstrates the growth in support for the technology over the past 12 months, with a 13% increase in those who believe nuclear will be part of the energy mix.
“The rhetoric of a ‘nuclear debate’ does not align with reality. There is broad consensus and an expectation that nuclear power would help deliver the best energy outcomes for Australians,” Mr Shackel said.
“People across the political spectrum recognise that nuclear energy has a role, and is worth discussing seriously. Clearly there is more common ground across political lines than ‘debate’ in Canberra might suggest.
“Lifting the legislative bans wouldn’t mean committing Australia to new nuclear power plants tomorrow, but simply allow nuclear energy to be properly considered, assessed and debated alongside other technologies.
“Australians deserve an energy grid that is affordable, reliable and clean, and they deserve a conversation based on facts and science. It's time to put all energy options on the table.”
The YouGov research into Australia's attitudes towards nuclear power was conducted between 6 and 12 October 2026, with a sample of 1,550 Australian eligible voters aged 18 and over.
Paul Smith of YouGov said the research provided a detailed picture of Australians' attitudes towards nuclear energy.
“What stands out in these findings is the breadth of views across different voting groups,” Mr Smith said.
“The results show that attitudes towards nuclear energy cannot simply be reduced to traditional political divisions.”
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