By Tony Moore
The Liberal National Party president has blasted the Queensland education system for "brainwashing" students about climate change.
Speaking to LNP members at the party's state conference today, Bruce McIver said he was discouraged about how children were being taught about climate change in schools.
LNP president Bruce McIver.
Mr McIver said he was shaken by the way issues were being taught when he and his wife visited their grandson's school.
"We were shocked at the way the climate change debate on one side is being pushed in the classroom," he said.
"And not balanced perspectively. Our kids are being brainwashed under this Labor education system."
Mr McIver's comments received loud applause from more than 700 delegates from throughout the state.
"Why aren't they being told that if you go to Quilpie and you drive to Windorah - [Liberal National Party MPs] Vaughan Johnson's country, Howard Hobbs' country - you will see these sand hills that have been blown up years ago," he said.
"When the droughts were much bigger than the ones we have just had.
"And why aren't we being told that Brisbane has had floods in the 1890s of over eight metres.
"[LNP leader] Campbell [Newman] tells me that back in the 1820s - even before white man even came here - there were floods that could have been over 12 metres at the post office at the bottom of Elizabeth Street.
"So, things change. Climate is constantly changing. Is man having an effect? Well I will leave it for you to judge."
Queensland Education Minister Cameron Dick said Mr McIver’s comments were an “outrageous slur” on the professionalism of the state's 38,000 teachers.
“The curriculum taught in Queensland state schools is developed and delivered by educational experts, not politicians, nor backroom political party operatives like Mr McIver,'' he said.
''Quite simply, students studying science in Queensland state schools are taught scientific facts.
''We all know that Mr McIver and the LNP are climate-change deniers, and his comments are not only wrong and insulting, but an attempt to push the party’s ‘head-in-the-sand’ beliefs on Queenslanders.''
Mr McIver described Labor's carbon tax as a "socialist" policy would have a devastating effect on Queensland business and on Queensland jobs.
"It is a direct threat to our economy. I believe it is a redistribution of wealth," he said to cheers of "hear, hear" among delegates.
"It is a direct threat to Queensland jobs."
Mr McIver also challenged Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to install more Queenslanders onto his shadow front bench.
The LNP won 21 of Queensland's 30 Federal seats at the August 2010 election.
"I believe that our members in parliament and senators deserve shadow portfolios and then, if we are successful, ministries," he said.
"And the LNP will be fighting for that because the LNP believes we need Queenslanders representing us."
Mr McIver said the LNP had added an extra 4000 members since it formed in July 2008.
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