Mark Speakman forces senior Liberal MP to pull motion supporting Dutton’s power plan

Senior Liberal Anthony Roberts wanted to laud Peter Dutton’s nuclear power plan in NSW parliament. He was forced to pull his motion after Mark Speakman got wind of it.

NSW Liberal Leader Mark Speakman has intervened to stop one of his MPs praising Peter Dutton’s nuclear power plan and condemning the Labor government’s scare campaign.

Senior Liberal Anthony Roberts had intended to move a motion in parliament on Friday congratulating the federal Coalition for pursuing nuclear as part of the energy mix to deliver clean and reliable power.

However, The Daily Telegraph can reveal that Mr Roberts was forced to pull his motion, after Mr Speakman got wind of the idea.

The motion was flagged by 2GB radio host Ben Fordham on Friday morning.

Liberal sources said Mr Roberts received a call shortly after demanding he change his motion because it was too contentious.

Senior Liberal Anthony Roberts wanted to praise Peter Dutton in a parliamentary motion on Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Those sources said the call came directly from the Liberal Leader. Mr Speakman did not deny that proposition on Friday.

“I don’t speculate on any private conversations with colleagues,” he told the Telegraph.

Mr Speakman says he is open to considering nuclear power but wants more details. Picture: NewsWire

“I’ve made my position clear on the subject of energy earlier this week.

While Mr Speakman has said he is “open” to the idea of nuclear power if it stacks up, he has stopped short of giving Mr Dutton’s plan his full support.

On Thursday, Mr Speakman told 2GB that he wanted “much more detail” on the Federal Coalition’s plan.

It is understood Mr Roberts’ motion would have condemned Labor its scare campaign against nuclear power, which has included cartoons of three-eyed and a deformed fish from a Simpsons episode which aired more than 30 years ago.

Labor MP Andrew Leigh claimed nuclear would lead to deformed koalas.

Mr Roberts had also intended to call on NSW parliament to support nuclear as part of the energy mix.

The Lane Cove MP declined to comment when contacted.

The prospect of two nuclear power stations being built in NSW has already caused friction within the NSW Coalition.

NSW Nationals MPs who would have nuclear power stations in their electorates have vowed to fight the plan.

NSW Nationals have vowed to fight against nuclear reactors in their electorates. Picture: NewsWire

“I think the community feels as though they’ve been left in the dark,” Bathurst MP Paul Toole told the Telegraph this week.

Nationals Upper Hunter MP Dave Layzell also said he would also fight a proposal to have a reactor at Liddell Power Station in his electorate near Muswellbrook.

“I do not accept a federal government decision to lob a facility onto the community of the Upper Hunter,” he said.

Liberal MP Ray Williams – a supporter of nuclear power – backed Mr Speakman’s position on Friday.

“I think Mark has been open to the conversation and he has shown great leadership already on behalf of our party,” he said.

Originally published as Mark Speakman forces senior Liberal MP to pull motion supporting Dutton’s power plan