Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud Interviewed on Weekend Today
JAYNE AZZOPARDI
The Coalition's push for nuclear energy puts it on a potential collision course with states like Queensland that don't want to lift their nuclear bans. Now The Nationals leader has warned if the Coalition wins the next election and states don't respect their mandate, he'll use federal powers to make them. David Littleproud joins us now for today's talkers along with Triple M's Gus Worland, and good morning to you both. David, you haven't won an election yet. Is now the time to start with the threats?
DAVID LITTLEPROUD
Oh, there's no threat. We'd rather be constructive. And if we get a mandate, I think what the Australian people want is leadership and they want leadership from all levels of government. And if a mandate is given, then those level of governments should work constructively with the Federal Government because we have a national energy grid.
And it's important they understand that we just can't look after our own state. We've got to look after the whole of the country, apart from Western Australia obviously. But we've got to make sure that we work constructively together. And if the Australian people give a strong message about having an energy mix, rather than an all-renewables approach, then you would expect no matter their political persuasion that they show that leadership.
I think they want us all to be the adults in the room and get on with what the Australian people decide.
JAYNE AZZOPARDI
Gus, do you think David has a point here or do the Feds need to respect that the states have already made their rules?
GUS WORLAND
Well, it's a couple of things here. Firstly, they've got to do a better job of us understanding, as the Aussie public, nuclear power. Because we've watched movies and seen things. We've got all these horrific thoughts about it. So if it's safe, we need to be better trained on that. And secondly, through Covid I realized that the states run Australia rather than the Federal Government, which is a shame. So I think getting back to the Feds running, it might be the way to go.
JAYNE AZZOPARDI
David, have you explained it well enough?
DAVID LITTLEPROUD
Yeah, look, the next phase will go into the costings and the mix. But let me just say, in terms of the safety, this is done safely around the world. We're not using 1950s technology from the Soviet Union. In fact, we're going to put our submariners, we're going to sleep them next to a nuclear reactor when we bring in submarines. We wouldn't do that unless we felt it's safe. We've had nuclear energy in this country since 60 or 70 years at Lucas Heights. We should back ourselves. This is a zero emissions technology and for us in regional Australia, it's a better future than having our landscape ripped up with transmission lines, turbines and solar panels and tearing up your food security and pushing up your food prices.
We're actually destroying the very thing we're trying to protect. We're tearing up the natural environment. So we in regional Australia just think this is a better way. But yes, Gus is right. We're got to continue to make sure we give the comfort around the safety. But we should back ourselves as a country. We can do this better than anyone else in the world.
JAYNE AZZOPARDI
Alright, let's move on now. It was once the great Australian dream, a large block with a backyard, big enough for a game of cricket. But will the next generation ever have that chance? There is a boom in micro lot houses across greater Sydney with postage stamp sized backyards. Gus my backyard is the size of a postage stamp. Is this something to lament or is it just a sign of the times?
GUS WORLAND
I think it's both, unfortunately. It's just the way it's going to go. I mean obviously we'd love to have that space that, you know, back in the day it was, and some houses still have. But yeah, it's just the way it is now. We've got more people and less land, so it's just going to be the way it is and it's a real shame. But we have to live with the times we have right now.
JAYNE AZZOPARDI
David, my parents, my kids have to visit my parents to be able to run around a backyard. We are in a housing crisis right now. Do we need to adjust our great Australian dream to say maybe a nice apartment with a park nearby?
DAVID LITTLEPROUD
Yeah, I think we do. And I think Gus is right. I think this is a sign of the times, we've got to go up, not out. We've got a housing crisis, we've got to get supplying quickly and going up is the quickest way to do that. And I think we've got to understand as many countries around the world, if you go to London or Paris, you're probably not going to have a block of land around your house. You're probably going to live in an apartment.
And that's the choices that we're going to have to make. Because we've also got to preserve our agricultural land, otherwise we'll lose our food security. So I think there's some tough decisions and I think some of the states are doing that. Chris Minns, we’ve got to give credit where credit is due.
At least he's having a crack at it at the moment and having those conversations. I know they're tough, but he's at least having the courage to do it.
JAYNE AZZOPARDI
Alright, now we've got to get across all the big issues here on Weekend Today. And there is none bigger than this. Did you know it's World Chocolate Day today?
And that means we have to ask the important question, what is the best block of chocolate of all time? Now, personally, I could go like a peppermint aero or a cherry ripe depending on my mood.
GUS WORLAND
Cherry ripe is controversial.
JAYNE AZZOPARDI
Is it? What is your favourite then Gus?
GUS WORLAND
Violet crumble. The old violet crumble. It is old school but nothing quite better on the way home, nip into the servo. Grab a little violet crumble on the way home. Beautiful.
JAYNE AZZOPARDI
A violet crumble is definitely a backyard cricket type chocolate. Not an apartment chocolate. Definitely, you know the old school of the chocolate variety. Very true, very true. David, what is your go-to treat?
DAVID LITTLEPROUD
Well actually I used to be a violet crumble (person), but as my palate has matured, Gus, I've gone to the picnic now, as I'm a little older, I've gone the picnic. I like the nuts. You’ve got to have something else. I used to get a violet crumble every Friday with my $2 pocket money from dad. You'd get a violet crumble. But now I've matured.
JAYNE AZZOPARDI
David, I do have word coming from your office that you're also partial to the Tim Tam.
DAVID LITTLEPROUD
Oh yeah. But my wife's watching. She's not meant to know that I have Tim Tams in my office. They shouldn't be saying that sort of stuff.
JAYNE AZZOPARDI
I actually remember discovering my father had a secret stash of Tim Tams in his office back when I was younger. We're not allowed these at home. How does this happen?
GUS WORLAND
Leaks everywhere this morning.
JAYNE AZZOPARDI
David and Gus, thank you so much for your time this morning.
