Queensland nuke MP goes to ground after Dutton disaster
The Queensland MP who pushed the Coalition’s controversial and costly nuclear energy plan has gone to ground despite calls for him to put his hand up for party leadership.
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The Queensland MP who pushed the Coalition’s controversial and costly nuclear energy plan has gone to ground despite calls for him to put his hand up for party leadership.
Ted O’Brien, the Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy, had the job of selling nuclear energy in the face of a massive scare campaign which has been partially credited with costing Peter Dutton his seat.
The Greens and conservation movement heavily targeted Mr Dutton on his nuclear policy while Treasurer Jim Chalmers led a scare campaign saying Mr Dutton would build a nuclear power plant in his ultra marginal seat of Dickson, despite it not being part of the Coalition’s plan.
It came after Mr Dutton told a TV debate “I would have a nuclear site in my own suburb’ when asked whether he would feel comfortable having own in his electorate.
Mr Dutton suffered on preference flows from Climate 200-backed independent Ellie Smith, which went to Labor’s Ali France whose nineteen-year-old Henry died from leukaemia in March last year, months after cancer took his father, Ms France’s ex-husband, Clive.
Mr O’Brien who faced protests in his own Sunshine Coast electorate, including people gathering on the beach at Coolum to send a clear message, suffered a 6.2 per cent first preference swing against him and a 5.2 per cent two-party preferred slump.
He had 53.7 per cent of the vote against Labor’s Naomi McQueen with 46.3 per cent with Climate 200-backed independent Francine Wiig polling well on 12.1 per cent.
Mr O’Brien, who is known as a hardworking local MP who is active and prominent in his electorate, has failed to return calls after Saturday night’s horror show for the Coalition.
In a social media post he wrote: “It has been difficult to see the election results roll in tonight, and to see so many fine colleagues lose their seats across the country.”
“To Peter Dutton, thank you for your leadership of the Liberal Party and for your strength and character which came through in your dignified speech to the nation this evening.
“The task of rebuilding the Federal Liberal Party – based on the values which unite us – now begins. The future of Australia depends on it.”
There’s some speculation Mr O’Brien is being touted for a leadership position.
But some Coalition figures have already started to blame the nuclear plan as one of the reasons it failed to win young voters, who were crucial for any chance of conservative success.
During the campaign, Mr Dutton was targeted by nuclear protests.
There are already calls among senior Liberals for the party to dump the plan which involved the construction of seven nuclear reactors across the country at the potential cost of hundreds of billions of dollars.
David Symes posted on Mr O’Brien’s Facebook site: “5+% swing against you. Lucky you held your seat. I assume nuclear is a dead duck now?”
“The fact it was ever put forward is insane,’’ Mitchell Smith added.
But others said the Coalition should keep the policy.
“Don’t let go of nuclear Ted, those opposite and the Greens/Teals hope it will go away but we can’t let that happen,’’ Stuart Andrew Colbeck said.
“Bring out a solid plan and costing and the country will come on board.’’
Others questioned why the Coalition campaign was so bad.
“I’m sorry to say that the campaign was badly managed. Too late, too little. Why did the Liberals wait so late to start it.? The delay gave Labor at least a month of clear air,’ Paul Ritchie wrote.
“The idiocy of Bowen’s net zero and renewables of Labor was lost because we let it get confused with nuclear energy only,’’ he added.
Member for Wide Bay, LLew O’Brien said he believed a “big part of the party’s failure at the polls was its commitment to net zero carbon emissions, a policy which was contributing significantly to higher electricity prices and the cost-of-living crisis.”
But Mark Forbes said history would show that Peter Dutton was the first leader to start a serious conversation around nuclear power.
“A conversation that needs to be continued…. we can’t run Australia on sun and wind alone,’’ Mr Forbes said.
Mr O’Brien’s supporters urged him to throw his hat in the ring for the leadership, acknowledging his success in taking on Energy Minister Chris Bowen in the national press club debate.
“Your knowledge, ability to debate and vigour was the one bright spot in a lacklustre, shambolic campaign.”
“We need someone who can connect with all Australians especially the everyday person and can remain strong and argue their point,’’ Janet Pond said.
“I don't want to see the LNP elect a leader simply because they have been in the media or sitting next to Peter Dutton.
“The LNP now needs to look outside the box and really take a fresh approach to engage more of the population and communicate in a way that motivates more and more to be engaged in politics and learn how important it is.”
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