Nuclear energy debate draws stark gender split in Australia ahead of next year’s election

Liddell coal-fired power station in the Hunter Valley. On transporting nuclear waste, the poll found 57% of women and 43% of men said it wasn’t worth the risk. Photograph: Mark Baker/AP

New data points to a stark gender split in attitudes towards nuclear energy, with women much more likely to say they don’t support it or think the risks are too great.

Research company DemosAu surveyed 6,000 people on behalf of the Australian Conservation Foundation and found 26% of women thought nuclear energy would be good for Australia, compared with 51% of men.