Nationals vow to take nuclear power to next election - to protect “food security”
Nationals leader David Littleproud confirmed the party will take nuclear power to the next federal election, arguing it is essential for Australia’s energy mix.
The policy push came after a week-long split with the Liberals, as the Nationals fought to keep four priorities: nuclear power, a $20b Regional Australia Future Fund, supermarket reforms, and better mobile coverage.
Littleproud argued that renewables were damaging farmland and the environment, linking nuclear energy to protecting “food security.”
And the Regional Australia Future Fund would support childcare, regional doctors, and councils, funded from export revenues.
He also demanded a universal service obligation for telcos to maintain regional towers, accusing companies of neglecting the bush.
Littleproud said the Nationals stood by their principles during the split and praised the Liberals for later agreeing to their demands.
At the LNP convention in Brisbane, delegates passed a near-unanimous resolution to abandon net zero by 2050, sparking internal debate.
Party discussions were dominated by energy policy, with nuclear pitched as an alternative to transmission-heavy renewables.
The convention also featured appearances from senior Liberal figures, including Peter Dutton and Sussan Ley, with over 160 policy resolutions set to be debated.