Dutton’s vision brings nuclear issue to Crisafulli’s doorstep

Nuclear energy is something Queensland LNP leader David Crisafulli has not wanted to spend any time talking about as he works to steer his party to victory in October’s election.

“That’s a discussion for Canberra,” Crisafulli said – as he has previously – amid eight back-to-back questions in Townsville on Wednesday about his federal colleagues’ nuclear vision.

David Crisafulli is at odds with federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s nuclear vision in Queensland.Credit: Darren England

But Peter Dutton’s pitch of seven potential nuclear reactors (including two in his home state) – which he hopes to pin his own election chances on by next May – have made that response untenable.

For starters, there are big unclear and unanswered questions about cost, or what type of reactors Dutton anticipates the Commonwealth would build and own by the mid-2030s.

His timeline is also contrary to Australia’s chief scientific research arm and energy market regulator, which say a power station will likely take until 2040 – and at a higher price than renewables.

Not to mention the fact that even the far-from-nuclear-shy head of the International Energy Agency has said Australia doesn’t need the technology as it transitions from fossil fuels.

But with both of the two ageing Queensland coal-power sites eyed by Dutton in full or partial state ownership (Tarong, near Nanango about 150 kilometres north-west of Brisbane; and Callide, inland from Gladstone, respectively), there are other questions, too.

While Crisafulli has said he would not seek to roll back the state’s ban on nuclear power if elected, Labor’s deputy premier, Cameron Dick, has suggested the Commonwealth could have its way on this and other related matters.

Dutton, too, has flagged the Commonwealth’s ability and intention to compulsorily acquire – with financial compensation – any of the sites needed if the owners are not willing to negotiate.

No small matter, even before you factor in Labor’s own plans to use such sites as renewable energy hubs as it aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and play its role in trying to avert the worst of global warming.

Crisafulli has largely been able to avoid questions around nuclear energy to date because the prospect has been hypothetical.

But it’s no longer just a Canberra issue. It’s one that the residents of the South Burnett and Callide regions, particularly, will be wanting answers on – along with the rest of Queensland and grassroots LNP members who support Dutton’s vision.

This month, Premier Steven Miles accused Crisafulli of pitching “a Labor government without the Labor Party”. Crisafulli could now arguably also be offering an LNP government without the LNP.

Dutton made it clear on Wednesday that he was more than happy to fight the next federal election as a “referendum” on nuclear energy. And this is perhaps where the biggest question lies for Crisafulli.

The last time we had a national vote on an issue that appeared to go against his view, Crisafulli changed his tune. If he is genuine in his apparent opposition to shifting the state’s stance on nuclear energy, he will now need to do plenty more – and more than – talking.