“The first step is to get David elected as premier,” he told reporters at the time.
“When the prime minister stops running scared, he’ll hold an election, and I intend to be prime minister after the next election, and we can have that conversation.
“In the end, we want the same thing, and that is cheaper electricity for Queenslanders.”
On the campaign trail in Cairns on Monday, Premier Steven Miles reiterated his commitment to “fight tooth and nail” against nuclear power plants being built in the state if given another term.
Premier Steven Miles speaks to local union members at Cairns Esplanade with member for Cairns Michael Healy and member for Cook Cynthia Liu on Monday. Credit: Catherine Strohfeldt
“I will be using every power available to me to block Peter Dutton’s [nuclear power] plan, and you know David Crisafulli will not do that,” he said.
“The existing law outlaws nuclear reactors and also requires a plebiscite the minute a Minister is aware the Australian government intends to build a nuclear plant [in Queensland].
“We also have other powers — we own the sites they want to use, we own the transmission network that they want to use.”
Miles said Crisafulli had given “precisely the same answer” on the topic of nuclear power as other issues that have dominated the LNP campaign, including termination of pregnancy laws.
“He doesn’t say if he supports it or [if he] opposes it, he just says it is not part of his plan,” said Miles.
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“Of course, they’re weasel words. They don’t mean anything to Queenslanders opposed to nuclear energy because we know it is the most expensive option.”
He suggested Dutton had been “very, very clear” that electing Crisafulli was the coalition’s first step to establishing nuclear in Queensland.
“The first step to blocking that plan is electing me next weekend,” Miles said.
