By Cam Lucadou-Wells and Violet Li
In a pre-election bombshell, voters in the South East have overwhelmingly backed nuclear energy, according to a Star News readers survey.
A huge majority of the 111 respondents supported the Coalition’s nuclear energy policy (71 per cent).
In contrast, Star surveys in Melbourne’s West and East found strong opposition to the nuclear option.
With a nuclear power station pledged for Loy Yang in Gippsland – about 100 kilometres east of Pakenham – a majority of South East respondents backed a nuclear plant in their local area (55.5 per cent).
Interestingly, most responses prioritised cheap electricity prices (78 per cent) over reduced carbon emissions (22 per cent).
The Coalition has touted nuclear energy as cheaper with ‘zero emissions’, while critics claim the $263 billion estimated cost for seven power stations is exorbitant.
South East readers also emphatically believed immigration should be reduced (74.5 per cent), compared to an increased level (6 per cent) and the status quo (19 per cent).
Several linked immigrations to a shortage of affordable housing and insufficient infrastructure.
Electricity prices and immigration were among the top issues for respondents, along with cost-of-living – which was No.1.
Rounding out the top 5 were health services, and national-roads-and-rail infrastructure.
“All roads within our area are in poor condition, new and old alike,” said a Cranbourne Star News reader.
“Our roads are not safe. Local and major roads need urgent repairs after years of neglect. Our vehicles are being damaged by the poor state of our roads causing unfair and expensive repairs that men cannot afford with the ultra-budget that is far more than their earnings,” another Cranbourne Star News reader said.
Local hospitals (45.5 per cent) were readers’ top priority for more federal funding, followed by defence (21 per cent), infrastructure (16 per cent) and highways (8 per cent).
“(We need) more staff reducing waiting time in ED (emergency department),” said a reader.
“Our health system is suffering, too few doctors and nurses, ambulance ramping, hard to find a GP who bulk bills,” said another.
Cranbourne readers nominated new infrastructure: commercialisation of the Hasting Ports, duplication and extension of the Cranbourne train line, an extension of Thompsons Road to Pakenham, Clyde Road duplication, a South East airport, and more rail freight hubs.
Apart from the new infrastructure projects, several Cranbourne readers are calling for the quick wrap-up of the South Gippsland Highway and Ballarto Road Roundabout construction by Casey Council, citing concerns that the roadwork has been taking too long.
“It is such a mess and taking far too long to finish, two and a half years so far,” a Cranbourne Star News reader said.
Global security was looming as a concern for 66 per cent of respondents, just behind improving national roads and transport infrastructure for 67 per cent.
A majority of respondents were also concerned about housing affordability (56 per cent).
“(We need) affordable and social housing to help address the increasing number of people experiencing housing stress and impending or current homelessness.” a Cranbourne Star News reader said.
In other results, a majority intended to vote for a ‘major party’ (Labor or Liberal) (76 per cent) rather than a minor party (14.5 per cent) or an independent (9 per cent).
Most thought social media was having a significant impact on political decisions and public discourse in Australia (58 per cent).
Just 12 per cent thought social media had insignificant influence.
Two-thirds of respondents were aged 61 and over.
