ABC, nuclear power and transgender kids lead Queensland LNP debates

The LNP Queensland convention will debate whether a Dutton government should force the ABC to become ‘patriotic’, ban gender dysphoria surgery for children pending a review, and move to nuclear power.

Queensland’s Liberal National Party state convention is in Brisbane this weekend, with a raft of resolutions calling for a future Dutton federal government to introduce new policies about the ABC, nuclear power, and treatment for transgender children. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

A Dutton federal government should force the ABC to become a “patriotic” broadcaster, ban gender dysphoria surgery for children pending a nationwide review, and move to nuclear power, under resolutions to be debated at the Liberal National Party’s Queensland convention.

LNP members in Brisbane this weekend will also push for a future state conservative government to audit “sexually explicit materials” in all Queensland state schools and public libraries and develop a publicly searchable list, and oppose the $2.7bn redevelopment of the Gabba for the 2032 Olympics.

A diverse collection of 129 open-session resolutions are being circulated among party members ahead of Saturday’s address by Peter Dutton, but heated debate about Queensland’s Path to Treaty legislation and the Indigenous voice to parliament will likely be fought behind closed doors.

“There’s no doubt there will be motions about treaty, but they’ll be in closed sessions to protect (LNP Opposition Leader) David (Crisafulli),” one party member said, referring to grassroots anger at the state LNP’s bipartisan backing of the Palaszczuk government’s First Nations treaty laws.

On Friday, more than 250 state councillors will vote on the LNP’s Senate ticket, deciding the fate of sitting senator Gerard Rennick.

Sitting Queensland Liberal senator Gerard Rennick faces a challenge to his Senate spot on Friday. Picture: Nev Madsen

Registered lobbyist and former federal Young Liberal vice-president Nelson Savanh is the key challenger for Senator Rennick’s spot on the LNP Senate ticket.

While Senator Rennick’s Liberal Senate colleague Paul Scarr is likely to easily hold his top position on the ticket, and Nationals senator Susan McDonald’s second spot is uncontested, Senator Rennick faces a battle for third place, which the party may not hold at the next federal election.

His biggest challenge comes from Nelson Savanh, a registered lobbyist and former Young Liberal federal vice-president, who has the backing of party powerbroker senator James McGrath and the Young LNP.

Other contenders are party treasurer Stuart Fraser, Sunshine Coast region chair and former Rennick staffer Mitchell Dickens, and political staffer Sophia Li.

“Rennick is worried but there’s been a bit of a rallying of his colleagues, who’ve said ‘he’s out there, but he’s a hope for us to capture the right flank votes that can often wander off to the minor parties’,” an LNP source said.

Senator Rennick, who rebelled against the Morrison government over vaccine mandates in 2021, is being formally endorsed by sitting Queensland LNP MPs Keith Pitt and Luke Howarth.

LNP MP Luke Howarth is endorsing Senator Rennick for the LNP’s third spot on the Senate ticket. Picture: Matthew Poon

Hinkler MP Keith Pitt is endorsing Senator Rennick. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

On the policy front, the LNP’s Bonner branch – based on Brisbane’s bayside – has put a resolution to state convention calling on the next federal Coalition government to restore the ABC to “being a broadcaster of balance, integrity, trustworthiness, patriotism, colour-blindness, high moral standards, supporter of faiths, exemplar of dignity in reporting standards, in compliance with its charter”.

The LNP Women group is ­advocating for a future Coalition federal government to urgently ­review “the current treatment of paediatric gender dysphoria, and that all puberty blockers, hormone treatment and surgical intervention be suspended for children under 18 until the review is completed”.

Meanwhile, the LNP’s science and innovation policy committee has put a motion calling for the next Coalition government to support nuclear fusion research “with a long-term objective to transitioning to nuclear fusion electricity generation”.

The Cairns branch wants a ­future Coalition government to “legislate a pathway, acceptable to the mining industry” to pay half of all mining royalties direct to “the entire Australian citizenship”, while the Ninderry branch wants employees to be able to choose whether their superannuation contribution is used for retirement savings, paying down their university HECS debt, or for mortgage repayments.

The Clayfield branch wants a future LNP state government to host a “fiscally responsible” 2032 Olympics and oppose the redevelopment of the Gabba, the Young LNP wants mandatory sexual consent education in schools and the reintroduction of an upper house in Queensland (abolished in 1922), and the Townsville branch is pushing for alleged juvenile criminals to be monitored 24/7 while on bail.

LNP Women will press for the next conservative state government to audit “indecent” and “sexually explicit materials” – including “printed, electronic and cartoon formats” – in all state schools and public libraries, and develop a publicly searchable list.

Resolutions passed on the floor of Labor state conference become the parliamentary wing’s policy platform, though Labor politicians still decide when to introduce policies. For the LNP, policy resolutions passed at state convention are not binding on the parliamentary party.