Anthony Albanese backed Steven Miles' opposition to nuclear power as he joined the Queensland premier on the first day of voting ahead of the state election.
At a joint press conference on the Gold Coast on Monday, the Prime Minister was asked about Mr Miles' plan to hold a plebiscite on nuclear power if Labor wins this month's election.
Albanese said the proposal was a “Queensland issue” but supported the current prime minister's stance against nuclear power.
“What I certainly hope happens is that Steve Miles is elected Premier of Queensland. That's what I want to happen, because it's a way to ensure that this nuclear fantasy [is stopped]“he said in a joint press conference with Miles.
Miles revealed the plan to call a vote on the issue in an exclusive interview with Guardian Australia, perhaps at the next federal election.
The prime minister said he had not raised the idea with the prime minister before making it public.
The Nuclear Facilities Ban Act bans nuclear power and requires a plebiscite on any Commonwealth plans.
“I have said I will follow the law,” Miles said.
“[Opposition leader] David Crisafulli has said that he does too, but I wonder if he really intends to hold that plebiscite.”
The leader of the National Liberal Party refused to give an answer on whether he would support a plebiscite, but called the prime minister's comments “divisive”.
“We have an energy plan and we will implement it, and it does not involve nuclear energy,” Crisafulli said.
He dodged questions about why he opposed nuclear power plant plans proposed by his federal counterpart, Peter Dutton.
The leader of the federal opposition will bring a plan for seven Commonwealth-owned nuclear power plants to the next election. This includes two in Queensland, replacing existing coal plants at Callide and Tarong.
The leader of the Liberal National Party, who voted in favor of the state's renewable energy and emissions reduction targets earlier this year, has gradually hardened his position on green energy.
Crisafulli said last fortnight that he would expand the state's coal fleet beyond the planned closure dates.
He later dismissed Labour's legislated transition to green energy as “fanciful”.
Crisafulli also dodged questions about abortion laws, again failing to commit to not allowing a conscience vote by his party members on a bill to be introduced by Katter's Australian Party in the next parliament.
“I'm not giving you the answer you want, but I'm giving you the answer Queenslanders deserve,” he told reporters.
“There is a law in place that allows it and there will be no change in the law, none.”
Albanese and Miles took the Gold Coast light rail to Monday's press conference in Parkwood, paying just 50 cents each for the ride, with the premier joining the campaign for the first time when pre-voting opened to the state elections.
Miles had previously stated that he did not need Albanese's backing. “David Crisafulli might think he needs some of Peter Dutton's rizz to rub off on him, but I don't,” Miles said last week.
Dutton joined Crisafulli 10 days ago, in the first week of the election campaign.
Standing in front of a sign reading “all fares 50 cents”, Albanese backed his left-wing Labor counterpart as a “new prime minister” leading a government that could “regenerate”.
“I'll tell you what, this guy is going to get better and better,” he said.
All votes in the election must be cast by October 26.
gZl">Source link