Gold Coast’s two youngest MP clash for the first time about their climate change credentials

A war of words has broken out between the Gold Coast’s two youngest MPs, with Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon accusing her opponent of a backflip on climate change.

THE Gold Coast two youngest MPs have clashed for the first time with Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon accusing the LNP’s Sam O’Connor of a backflip on climate change.

Mr O’Connor, during last week’s raging bushfires debate, called for action and solutions saying climate change “is not a topic up for debate because like all science it’s based on the strength of evidence”.

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Bonney MP Sam O'Connor at a community meeting.

“Climate change is happening and the only debates we should be having are about how we deal with it,” he said at the time.

But Ms Scanlon, the Gaven MP, has asked the Bonney MP whether he would support the Palaszczuk Government’s 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030 and a net zero emissions target by 2050.

“Politicians who say one thing locally and do the exact opposite in parliament need to be called out. I nearly fell off my chair when I read that a GC LNP MP calls for action on climate change — the same person who voted against laws this term that do just that,” she said.

Ms Scanlon said she doubted anyone would be shocked by her strong stance on climate change given she was the youngest member of the Queensland parliament.

“It probably comes as no surprise that I spoke about taking action on climate change in my first speech and have repeatedly voted and raised this issue given the importance on my generation,” she said.

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Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon MP — nearly fell off her chair after reading Sam O’Connor’s comments about climate change. Picture: Jerad Williams

“I do agree with one point that the MP for Bonney made and it’s what I’ve been saying for some time now — we need bipartisanship on climate change.

“So my question to the MP for Bonney is this — will he support the Palaszczuk Government’s 50 per cent renewable energy target and our strong tree clearing laws or is this just more political spin.”

The Gecko Environment Council on the weekend came out in support of Mr O’Connor in a Facebook post saying it was “heartening to Gecko and others to finally see some LNP MPs speaking out about the science of climate change”.

Mr O’Connor has accused Ms Scanlon of “the same old negativity and petty politics” promoted by Labor.

“It’s ridiculous to put such a huge issue down to one set of laws but I used my vote to back our farmers,” he said.

“They care about the environment and know how to look after their land better than someone sitting in an office in Brisbane.”