Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's failure to abandon the Coalition's unpopular nuclear policy in his Budget Reply Speech is a missed opportunity but there is still time to correct course, Liberals Against Nuclear said today.
"Peter Dutton had a golden opportunity to reset the Liberal Party's economic pitch by abandoning an expensive nuclear energy policy that polling shows is actively driving voters away from the Coalition," said Andrew Gregson, spokesperson for Liberals Against Nuclear.
"Unfortunately, he chose to double down on a $600 billion plan that will take decades to deliver results. We would implore Mr Dutton to reconsider. Listen to the party members, candidates, backbenchers and LIberal supporters who know this policy is electorally toxic."
Recent polling commissioned by Liberals Against Nuclear in the Brisbane electorate found that 52.4% of voters said they would be less likely to vote for the Coalition because of its nuclear policy. The uComms poll of 1,184 voters also showed the Liberals trailing Labor by 56% to 44% on a two-party preferred basis.
"The Budget handed down by Treasurer Jim Chalmers provided the perfect backdrop to abandon nuclear on economic grounds. With long-term debt and structural deficits, Mr Dutton could have easily justified pivoting away from a policy that would add hundreds of billions to our national debt," Gregson said.
"Sadly, he ignored this exit route, but for the sake of candidates in winnable seats like Brisbane, Mr Dutton must reconsider.
"The Labor government is vulnerable on energy prices and cost of living, yet the Liberals are alienating the very voters we need with a nuclear policy that even our own candidates are reluctant to promote. Only nine of our candidates nationwide are featuring nuclear on their campaign websites – that should tell us something."
Liberals Against Nuclear will continue its campaign to persuade the Liberal Party leadership to reconsider its position on nuclear energy.
Media Contact: Andrew Gregson +61 435 218 403
www.liberalsagainstnuclear.au