Australians are split on nuclear energy, and the gender gap is hard to ignore
Using this data story? Please reference the source using one of the formats below.
Conjointly. (May 2026). Australians are split on nuclear energy, and the gender gap is hard to ignore. https://brandtracker.conjointly.com/data-stories/nuclear-energy/. Retrieved .
Conjointly. "Australians are split on nuclear energy, and the gender gap is hard to ignore." Brand Tracker by Conjointly, May 2026, https://brandtracker.conjointly.com/data-stories/nuclear-energy/. Accessed .
Conjointly. "Australians are split on nuclear energy, and the gender gap is hard to ignore." Brand Tracker by Conjointly. May 2026. https://brandtracker.conjointly.com/data-stories/nuclear-energy/. Accessed .
Conjointly surveyed 1,449 Australian adults in the May 2026 Brand Tracker wave, covering four extra questions:
- if people support nuclear energy,
- if they think nuclear energy would make electricity cheaper for households,
- preferred location (asked of supporters) and
- what specifically worries them (asked of neutrals and detractors).
Conjointly found that Australians are almost perfectly split on nuclear energy: 32% support it, 35% oppose it, and 33% are neutral.
Men are more likely to support nuclear (49% vs. 19% women), and 51% of men think nuclear would lower electricity bills. Over-55s are less undecided about nuclear (24% vs. 35% for 30-55-year-olds and 25% for under-30s). Over half of supporters (52%) want plants in remote or desert areas. Radioactive waste dominates the worry list at 66%, followed by accidents and meltdowns at 53% for non-supporters.
Support for nuclear energy
32% of Australians support nuclear energy, while 35% oppose it, the public is divided almost evenly.
Question 1: Do you support the use of nuclear energy in your country?
Results by segment
The line bar marks the overall average for "supporting nuclear" (32%).
Gender
Age
At 35% opposed and 32% support overall, nuclear faces more resistance and the debate is far from settled. Men are almost 2.5× more likely to support nuclear energy than women (49% vs 19%). Over-55s are the most supportive age group at 40%, while under-30s are the least at 25%.
Expected impact on household electricity bills
37% of Australians think nuclear energy would make electricity cheaper.
Question 2: Do you think nuclear energy would make electricity cheaper for households?
Results by segment
The line bar marks the overall average for "expecting cheaper bills" (37%).
Gender
Age
51% of men think nuclear would lower electricity bills, versus just 25% of women. More than half of women (54%) selected “no change / unsure”, the highest uncertainty of any group. Age makes little difference: all three age groups cluster around 37–40% expecting cheaper bills.
Preferred location for nuclear power plants
52% of supporters (N=473) think nuclear power plants should be built in remote or desert areas.
Question 3: Where should nuclear power plants be built?
Respondents could select more than one option.
Results by segment
% selecting each location option by segment.
| Female | Male | Under 30 | 30–55 | Over 55 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remote / desert... | 58% | 50% | 40% | 53% | 56% |
| Near industrial... | 31% | 36% | 24% | 31% | 39% |
| Underground | 35% | 25% | 36% | 25% | 29% |
| Coastal areas | 19% | 32% | 42% | 25% | 27% |
| Offshore / floating | 19% | 16% | 32% | 18% | 12% |
| Other | 3% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 4% |
Remote/desert areas top the list for every group except under-30s, where coastal areas (42%) edge it out. Women favour remote areas (58%) more than men (50%), and underground plants (35%) more than men (25%), suggesting safety is a bigger driver for female respondents. Over-55s show the strongest preference for industrial zones (39%) and the least appetite for offshore options (12%).
Biggest concerns about nuclear energy
66% of non-supporters (N=976) are concerned about radioactive waste, and 53% about accidents or meltdowns.
Question 4: What is your biggest concern about nuclear energy?
Respondents could select more than one option.
Results by segment
% selecting each concern option by segment.
| Female | Male | Under 30 | 30–55 | Over 55 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radioactive waste | 66% | 67% | 54% | 63% | 79% |
| Accidents / meltdowns | 51% | 54% | 38% | 49% | 67% |
| High construction cost | 41% | 32% | 34% | 27% | 47% |
| Weapons proliferation | 24% | 34% | 32% | 31% | 30% |
| Water use | 27% | 25% | 24% | 22% | 32% |
| No major concerns | 9% | 13% | 17% | 13% | 6% |
| Other | 2% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 1% |
Radioactive waste tops every single segment, peaking at 79% among over-55s, nearly 25 points higher than under-30s (54%). Over-55s also show the highest concern for accidents (67%) and construction cost (47%), suggesting deeper scepticism overall. Under-30s are the least concerned across almost every category and the most likely to say they have no major concerns (17%).
