Rift over Queensland coal royalties escalates at ‘conservative Coachella’

A call for Premier David Crisafulli to “sort out” coal royalties in Queensland earned enthusiastic support at an annual gathering of Australian conservatives on Saturday morning.

The excise – introduced by the former Labor government – was blamed by BHP for job cuts in September amid wider industry fury, but the LNP has been steadfast in its commitment to retain it.

“Look, I love Crisafulli,” Liberal campaigner Warren Mundine told Conservative Political Action Conference attendees at the Star in Brisbane.

“To finally defeat the left, he’s doing a great job … but, he’s got to sort out these coal royalties.

“He’s got to sort it out so we can build those schools, build those hospitals and build those roads.”

Huge cheers generated by the comments further exposed a rift between party leadership and the conservative base. Coalition moderates were singled out throughout the morning, and at times earned boos from the crowd as loud as Anthony Albanese.

Crisafulli promised before the last election he would not change the royalty scheme, and Treasurer David Janetzki doubled down on the commitment on Thursday.

Dubbed “conservative Coachella” by some commentators, the event in Brisbane attracted hundreds if not thousands of attendees.

A handful of MAGA hats were dispersed throughout the crowd, attendees could play a Pauline Hanson-themed pinball machine and journalists were made to wear “FAKE NEWS” press passes.

Slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk received multiple standing ovations.

Mundine spoke on Saturday morning alongside Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Tony Abbott, Queensland-based federal deputy Liberal leader Ted O’Brien and former UK prime minister Liz Truss.

Draped in an Australian flag and receiving a rock star’s welcome, Price called for the Coalition to “courageously abandon” its commitment to net zero just two weeks after being ousted from the frontbench.

“It will impoverish and de-industrialise our nation to achieve an emission reduction target that, in an Australian context, will not alter global temperatures one iota,” she said.

“We have an opportunity to pre-empt the public greenlash that will come, just as it has in Europe and America.”

The Northern Territory senator added her belief “communism” was behind the push to lower emissions.

“Net zero isn’t just an energy policy that will cause your power bills to keep going up. It’s about the government dictating how you and your family should live.

“Net zero is about reducing our freedom … it’s communism.”

Liz Truss, regarded by most historians as the shortest-serving British prime minister in history, defended her leadership record of 49 days and called for the Australian national broadcaster to be defunded.

“We need to make sure we build an independent media,” she said.

“When we do see in Britain the ghastly Keir Starmer evicted from office, we need to defund the BBC.

“You need to defund the ABC. I think they’re even worse than the BBC, actually. I have been interviewed by the ABC and I can attest to how bad they are.”

Queensland politicians Matt Canavan, Pauline Hanson and Amanda Stoker were also scheduled to speak on Saturday.

CPAC Australia will continue on Sunday.

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