Nationals leader David Littleproud has provided the biggest hint yet on where the Coalition’s nuclear power plants will be located if elected.
Liberal MP Zoe McKenzie says the Coalition has a “different approach” to Labor on how it will achieve its climate targets.
“I think Peter Dutton’s been really clear today, as have others have been over the weekend, that indeed we are committed to the Paris Agreement, and we are committed to net zero,” she told Sky News host Chris Kenny.
“We want all options on the table, including nuclear.”
The shadow agriculture minister’s revelation comes as the biggest hint on the proposed sites and follows rumours of internal debate within the party on possible nuclear locations.
Mr Littleproud gave Australians some clue as to where the sites could be on Wednesday morning when he discussed the Coalition’s nuclear energy plans with ABC’s News Breakfast.
Pressed on if he was happy to go to the next election with nuclear plants in Nationals electorates, Mr Litteproud said: “Yes … the answer is yes”.
Mr Littleproud has dropped a hint on where the Coalition’s nuclear power plants will be. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman
When questioned on if he knew where the plants would be, Mr Littleproud admitted the locations were in his party’s electorates.
“We will be very upfront and honest. They will be in National Party seats,” he said before attacking Labor’s renewables approach to green energy.
“We’ve been very clear that they will be limited to where existing coal power stations are, so we don’t need the extra 28,000 of transmission lines to plug the renewables in which tears up the food security and pushes up the food prices.
“We’re clear, there’s 12-14 existing coal-fired power stations across the country so we can limit to that.”
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The Nationals leader told the ABC that Australians will know the specific locations of the nuclear sites “very soon”.
“We’ll look you square in the eye and be honest and make sure that we change the culture in this country of why not to do things, to why do it and get on with the job and that’s the culture and we’ll be upfront and honest,” he said.
“What you see is what you get from Peter Dutton and I. We won’t hide anything from you.”
The locations of nuclear sites allegedly stirred disagreement within the Coalition in April following reports from the Sydney Morning Herald of internal dispute.
Mr Littleproud revealed the nuclear power plants will be located in Nationals seats. Picture: REUTERS/CHRISTIAN MANG
Nationals MPs claimed Mr Littleproud told a party room meeting he would not allow the Liberals to determine where the nuclear facilities would be put, many of which were considered likely to be in Nationals-held seats at the time.
The shadow agriculture minister denied there was tension within the Coalition at the time when questioned by Sky News’ Laura Jayes.
“No there’s not, there’s no tension at all,” he said.
“There may be a few (who) try and make hay for their own personal gain,” Mr Littleproud said before Jayes asked whether that was indicative of tension.
“No, there’s no tension,” he repeated.
“Tension is when you don’t have a majority and there is a clear majority of our party room that wants nuclear power.”
Nationals Leader David Littleproud has denied reports he is at odds with Peter Dutton, saying reports are “nothing more than gossip”.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton is being criticised for delaying the release of his nuclear energy policy.
There are reports he is at odds with Mr Littleproud, who doesn’t want the Liberal Party to decide the locations of the facilities.
Mr Littleproud has denied there is a disagreement between the two party leaders.
“There’s a process that we’re working through,” he told Sky News Australia.
“An article that names people that aren’t prepared to put their name to the story is nothing more than gossip.
“We’ve been very clear – Peter Dutton and myself – about where our proposed nuclear power plants will go.”
Mr Littleproud’s revelation comes during a week of fiery debate between Labor and the Coalition on 2030 emissions reduction targets.
After Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said his party would not announce a 2030 emissions reduction target, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese decried the revelation as an “extraordinary abandonment” of climate policy.
“His nuclear fantasy will result in higher power prices and more unstable energy grid and rising emissions,” he said.
“No 2030 target means walking out of the Paris Agreement. That is very clear and if you walk out of the Paris Agreement, you are left standing with Libya, Yemen, and Iran. That is not the company that Australia should want to keep.”
Mr Dutton revealed on Tuesday the Coalition will not reveal a 2030 emissions reduction target before the next election. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard
The climate row drew in Greens leader Adam Bandt who accused the Coalition of abandoning the Paris Agreement and Mr Albanese of crying “crocodile tears”.
“Nothing that our kids or grandkids do will be able to stop it,” Mr Bandt said.
“And meanwhile, with the Liberals completely ignoring the Paris agreement, Anthony Albanese is out crying Paris crocodile tears when his targets won’t meet the Paris Agreement goals either.
“Both Labor and Liberal are now committed to more coal and gas, opening more coal and gas mines in the middle of the climate crisis and that’s why both Labor and Liberal are on track to blow the Paris Agreement.”