Photo: © 2009 AAP Image/TRACEY NEARMY

Former New Sales Wales premier Bob Carr says younger people are more open to the idea of nuclear power, reported ABC News.

"There is a shift.  People are more open to it again because they can see the damage that carbon dioxide is doing," he said.

"It is coal that's the poison and there's been impressive progress in the handling of nuclear waste and reactor safety."

Forty-nine per cent of respondents to the poll said nuclear power should be considered for Australia's future energy needs, while 43 per cent were completely opposed, Fairfax newspapers said.

These figures demonstrate Australian attitudes may have changed as a 2002 Newspoll showed only 38 per cent in favour of nuclear power, with 51 per cent opposed, reported AAP.

Bob Carr says there needs to be a clear-headed debate in Australia about nuclear power.

But the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, says the Federal Government will not introduce nuclear power for Australia.

"We believe that whereas some countries around the world have no alternative but to use nuclear power, that is not the case in Australia," he said.

"We do not support nuclear power plants in Australia."

The Victorian government also says it will not be changing its stance against nuclear power.

Victorian Premier John Brumby said his government would not consider nuclear energy.

"We're not looking at that and really for Victoria that would not be a sensible solution," he told reporters.