Liberal deputy leader Ted O’Brien refuses to commit to nuclear policy he championed
The Liberal Party’s new deputy leader won’t commit to the controversial nuclear energy policy he devised and championed after the election wipe out.
The new Liberals Deputy Leader has refused to say whether he supports retaining the nuclear energy policy he was in charge of after the party suffered a devastating loss at the May 3 election.
Ted O’Brien, who as the energy spokesman for the Coalition, devised and championed the policy to establish nuclear energy plants in seven locations across the country, was grilled on the policy on 7.30 on Wednesday night.
He said all of the party’s policies – “including our energy policy” – will be under review.
“We need to be humble enough to recognise that the Australian people had something to say on the third of May,” Mr O’Brien said.
“But we have to get to the bottom of what that is and we will do so in a very open and humble way.
“And that includes with nuclear energy, that includes with the energy policy moreover, and right across the policy suite.”
Presenter Sarah Ferguson pushed Mr O’Brien on the nuclear policy, saying that it would be too late for nuclear reactors to replace coal by the time the Coalition returned to government.
“So I want to be crystal clear about this, are you saying it’s still possible for nuclear reactors in Australia to replace ageing coal fired power stations?” Ms Ferguson said.
In reply, Mr O’Brien said the party was not going to be rushed into policy decisions.
“So I can be as clear as you’ve been, we are at this stage not saying that any policy is out and gone, nor are we saying that any policy is accepted and locked in,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Our job right now is to ensure that we are understanding the message that the Australian people has sent us.”
Mr O’Brien said he recognised climate change “is a real issue” and too much time had been wasted on debating whether action was needed.
“My personal view is that what has held Australia back for too many years has been an unnecessary debate on the question of why act on climate change?” he said.
“It shouldn’t be a debate about whether or not climate change is happening today, whether or not there needs to be action taken. Of course there needs to be action taken.
“The question is, what is the best pathway?”
He said it was “critical” to reduce emissions as quickly as possible, but needs to be balanced.
When asked whether the Liberal Party would stick with its policy to remain in the Paris Agreement and the net zero climate emissions target, Mr O’Brien again all policies would be reviewed.
“No policy is definitively, in or definitively out. It would be premature to do so now.”
The Liberal Party’s coalition partners the Nationals may cause issues, with several members already pushing back on net zero and the push to transition from coal.
The Nationals have more numbers in the coalition after the May 3 election, and leader David Littleproud keen to stick with the Coalition’s nuclear policy.
“We’re going to review all our policies and we’ll do that in a calm, methodical way, similar to the way that we worked through the Voice to make sure we understand the implications of any decisions we make,” he said earlier this week.
“But we’ll be principled – principled about the people that we represent and making sure we understand the implications of that.
“So we’re not rushing into anything, but we will work through that in a collegial way.”
Originally published as Liberal deputy leader Ted O’Brien refuses to commit to nuclear policy he championed
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