Press Release: As energy costs bite, opposition to nuclear power falls to lowest level on record — and young Australians are leading the shift

Opposition to nuclear energy has hit its lowest point since Essential Media began tracking the question in 2009, falling to just 27%, as Australians grapple with rising energy costs and a deepening debate about the country's long-term energy future

Olkilouto Nuclear Power Station in Finland provides enough power each day for 5 million Aussie homes.

As household energy bills continue to rise and questions mount about the reliability and affordability of Australia's electricity supply, new exclusive polling commissioned by WePlanet Australia finds that opposition to nuclear power has collapsed to just 27% — the lowest level recorded since Essential Media first asked the question in 2009. Support stands at 44%, with a further 29% of voters undecided.

The result reflects a dramatic long-term reversal in public sentiment. Opposition peaked at 53% in March 2011, in the immediate aftermath of the Fukushima disaster. It has since fallen by more than half. The fastest shift occurred in the past 12 months: as recently as April 2025 — at the peak of the multi-million dollar anti-nuclear campaign during the federal election — opposition stood at 44% and support at 42%. Today those figures have reversed, with support outpacing opposition by 17 points.

Young Australians are driving the shift. Among 18–34 year olds, net support reaches +32 points — the highest of any age cohort. When asked whether they would be more likely to vote for Labor or the Greens if those parties supported nuclear, 42% of young voters said yes for each party, with net support slightly higher for the Greens at 25% than for Labor at 21%.

The findings also carry implications beyond generational lines. Among voters who currently intend to vote for the Coalition, 40% say they would be more likely to vote Greens if the Greens adopted a pro-nuclear policy, compared to 25% who say they would be less likely — a net of +15 points. The same cohort shows a similar openness toward Labor, with 39% saying they would be more likely to support the party under a nuclear policy against 28% less likely, a net of +11 points.

"What this polling shows is that last year's election was not a referendum on nuclear energy. There is clear room for Labor and the Greens to win support among young Australians — and even Coalition voters — if they are willing to take nuclear energy seriously as a climate solution and energy security policy." — Tyrone D’Lisle, National Director, WePlanet Australia

"Voters want pragmatic action on climate change, and this polling demonstrates that voters across the political spectrum support nuclear energy. This makes sense. Nuclear is a reliable low-carbon energy source with the ability to provide plenty of well-paid jobs in communities transitioning away from coal power production.” — Andrea Leong, President, WePlanet Australia

The polling uses the same question and methodology that Essential Media has applied consistently since 2009, allowing for direct comparison across 11 data points over 17 years. WePlanet Australia argues that as energy costs continue to burden Australian households, the sustained collapse in opposition to nuclear — combined with overwhelming support among younger voters — makes the case for treating nuclear energy as a serious policy option rather than a political liability.

The survey of 1,008 nationally representative Australian adults was conducted by Essential Media on March 23-25, 2026.

KEY FINDINGS

27% oppose — record low since tracking began in 2009

44% support nuclear energy nationally

+32pts net support among 18–34 year olds

−26pts opposition fallen since 2011 post-Fukushima peak of 53%

NOTES TO EDITORS

• Full data tables available on request. Contact Tyrone D’Lisle: +61 433 631 693 // tyrone.dlisle@weplanet.org

• March 2026 polling conducted by Essential Media, n=1,008, nationally representative sample of Australian adults.

• Historical trend data sourced from Essential Media polling conducted January 2009 – April 2025 using the same question wording. Full series available at essentialreport.com.au.

• Opposition peaked at 53% in March 2011, conducted in the immediate aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster (11 March 2011).

• WePlanet Australia is the Australian chapter of WePlanet, an global environmental NGO advocating for evidence-based solutions to the climate crisis, including nuclear energy, electrification, and sustainable food systems.