Maranoa incumbent retains home seat in wake of LNP thrashing
Nationals leader and regional MP David Littleproud has denied claims the Coalition’s controversial nuclear energy plan contributed to their election loss, and refuses to say whether it will remain.
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Despite a resounding loss for the Coalition, Maranoa MP and leader of the Nationals, David Littleproud, has refused to let go of his nuclear policy dream.
Mr Littleproud secured another term in his home seat of Maranoa on Saturday night, holding 51.91 per cent of the first preference vote with 55.43 per cent of votes counted.
His opponent and Labor candidate Alex Newman followed with only 16.29 per cent of the first preference vote.
Despite Mr Littleproud’s landslide victory, voters across the country turned their backs on LNP candidates, including party leader Peter Dutton who lost his seat of Dickson, solidifying a Labor majority government.
Throughout the campaign, Mr Littleproud championed the Coalition’s nuclear energy plan to build seven new power plants across Australia.
The policy was highly criticised by energy experts, climate change activists, traditional owners, and political adversaries for its unrealistic timelines, environmental impact, community and cultural ramifications and high costs.
Speaking to Sky News Australia on Sunday morning, Mr Littleproud refused to abandon his party’s nuclear energy policy.
“We’re going to work through all of those (policies), I don’t think nuclear was the reason we lost this,” he said.
“I think many people were more interested about the cost of living crisis, they saw that as something over the horizon, that’s why we talked a lot about gas.
“We’ll sit down, obviously, after this and work through the policy positions and make sure they are fit for purpose and fit for the future.
“It’s time for us to reflect as a Coalition and to come back and dust ourselves off; you’ve got to learn the lessons from this and move on.”
Mr Littleproud blamed the Liberal Party’s significant loss on a supposed smear campaign against Peter Dutton, linking him back to the controversial Trump presidency in the United States.
“I think what again Anthony Albanese and the Labor team were able to do was to really tap into these issues and then paint Peter and destroy his character,” he said.
“There’s a lesson in how they did politics, they did a lot better than us, and you’ve got to acknowledge that.”
Working closely throughout their time in Opposition, Mr Dutton described Mr Littleproud as his “partner in crime” in his concession speech on Saturday night.
“I get to see the real Peter Dutton; he is a man I trust … he is a nice guy despite what image has been portrayed of him,” Mr Littleproud said on Sky News Australia.
“He is a caring man, I think our parliament will be lesser for (losing him), but it’s been richer for him being there.
“Politics is brutal, there is a human toll to this and he and his family are facing that brutal toll this morning.”
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Originally published as Maranoa incumbent retains home seat in wake of LNP thrashing
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