- Candidates in favour of uranium mining would attract strong support
- NSW can snare first mover advantage to supply zero emissions energy source to nations growing their nuclear generation fleet
- No technical, environmental or social justification for NSW to maintain the current ban on uranium mining
More than two-thirds of New South Wales voters (67 per cent) support uranium mining in the state if it helps address climate change, according to research conducted for the Minerals Council of Australia.
A survey of 1000 NSW voters conducted for the MCA by Insightfully last month also found that twice as many voters would support a candidate in favour of uranium mining compared to a candidate that opposed extraction of the resource.
The research found a majority of NSW voters (52 per cent) support uranium being mined in NSW in the same way it is mined in other Australian jurisdictions.
Australia's uranium reserves are the world's largest, with around one-third of global resources, and Australia is the world's fourth largest producer behind Kazakhstan, Canada and Namibia.
Nuclear energy generation from uranium is recording its biggest growth for many decades as recent global energy trends reinforce benefits including energy security, low emissions and reliable supply.
The MCA research found that more than half of NSW voters (52 per cent) say they'd support nuclear energy generation in Australia if uranium mining was allowed in NSW, with medical and scientific use the top two reasons to support uranium mining in NSW.
Our uranium can only be used for peaceful purposes under bilateral agreements with customer countries, and uranium's use in nuclear technology extends beyond energy production to the production of medicines for life saving diagnosis and treatment.
Voters recognised the opportunities presented by uranium mining in NSW for both its capacity to generate revenue for the state and as an export that can assist trade partners with decarbonisation.
When considering uranium's potential to lower greenhouse gas emissions, there was strong net support among Labor voters (47 per cent) and Greens voters (36 per cent).
The evidence is clear: the New South Wales public is in favour of repealing the state ban on uranium mining, and the opportunity to develop a new commodity appeals across the political spectrum.
