Nationals leader expects Queensland LNP to fall into line on Coalition’s ‘courageous’ nuclear plan

If the Queensland LNP wins the October state election, they would be expected to fall in behind the federal coalition’s nuclear energy policy, according to Nationals leader David Littleproud.

Speaking at the LNP’s annual conference in Brisbane on Saturday, Mr Littleproud told reporters that if elected, the federal Coalition would have a mandate to pass legislation to remove the ban on nuclear energy.

To date, LNP leader David Crisafulli has opposed such a move.

Mr Littleproud said he would “expect that mandate be respected” by the state.

Mr Littleproud told the LNP conference the Coalition would be “taking a courageous” position on nuclear and that it was “folly” to put “all eggs in one basket” with renewable energy.

As recently as last month, Mr Crisafulli said the nuclear strategy was not part of the Queensland LNP’s “plan”.

Mr Littleproud said he respected Mr Crisafulli’s “values”, but did not believe the pathway to net zero by 2050 was a “linear” one.

‘Reckless renewables-only policy’

Coalition leader Peter Dutton’s championing of nuclear energy at the LNP conference on Saturday was met with applause by party faithful.

Mr Dutton said the next election would be a “choice between Labor’s reckless renewables-only policy or the Coalition’s plan for … cheaper, cleaner and consistent energy, which includes Australia becoming a nuclear-powered nation”.

Federal Labor frontbencher Pat Conroy said Mr Dutton had demonstrated “yet again that he is not fit to lead this country”.

“[He’s shown] he lacks the economic and security credentials to do that,” he said. 

“An example is how unpopular his nuclear policy is — not just in Australia but in our region, which diminishes our standing in the Pacific.”

None of the 173 open session resolutions at the LNP state conference include nuclear energy, so any internal division on the policy would be discussed behind closed doors.

Asked about why there were no open resolutions on nuclear energy, Mr Littleproud said the party had to be “really careful” about what motions were on the list.

“Once a resolution is passed, it’s not really submitted again for two years, it is policy,” he said. 

“Membership already made that determination [about nuclear energy] less than two years ago. So it stands on the books.”

‘Most expensive form of energy’ 

Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman told reporters she wondered how long the state opposition could “hold out” against its federal counterparts on nuclear energy.

“It’s ridiculous … [it] is by far the most expensive form of energy.”