Support among Australians for uranium mining is up 13% from last month, according to a special Roy Morgan telephone survey taken over the past two nights.

In the wake of Kim Beazley’s pledge to scrap Labor’s no new mines policy, Morgan finds 38% of Australians say there should be more than three uranium mines operating in Australia, up 13% from June.

Thirty eight per cent of Labor supporters say the number of mines should be expanded – up 18% from June, while 44% of Coalition voters – up 12 – are in favour of such a move.

Morgan’s Gary Morgan calls the results “positive”
for the Labor leader – and adds “Also of importance to Mr Beazley is the
increase in support from ALP voters, 38% – up 18% in seven weeks. This is not
far off the 44% support from L-NP voters.”

The results follow polling conducted by Morgan in June after the Prime Minister announced an inquiry into the Australian uranium industry that found more Australians approve – 49% – than disapprove – 37 – of the introduction of nuclear power plants to replace coal, oil and gas power plants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

They show a significant shift in sentiment from Morgan’s polling in October last year, when only 23% of Australians said they believed there should be more uranium mines.