The tension within the Queensland Liberal National Party (LNP) intensified during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) held in Brisbane on March 4, 2025. Attendees called for Premier David Crisafulli to address the contentious issue of coal royalties. The existing excise, established by the previous Labor government, has faced criticism from industry leaders, including BHP, who attributed recent job cuts to its financial impact.
During the event, prominent Liberal campaigner Warren Mundine urged Crisafulli to take decisive action. “To finally defeat the left, he’s doing a great job … but, he’s got to sort out these coal royalties,” Mundine stated, highlighting the necessity of addressing the issue to fund essential infrastructure like schools, hospitals, and roads. His remarks were met with enthusiastic applause, revealing a growing divide between the party’s leadership and its conservative base.
Crisafulli, who had pledged not to alter the royalty scheme before the last election, faced scrutiny from attendees who expressed their frustrations with the party’s moderates. The LNP’s Treasurer, David Janetzki, reaffirmed the party’s commitment to maintaining the current royalties, further complicating the dynamic within the party.
Conservative Voices Demand Change
The CPAC event, often referred to as “conservative Coachella,” attracted a substantial crowd, with participants sporting MAGA hats and journalists donning “FAKE NEWS” press passes. The atmosphere was charged, with Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, a Northern Territory senator, calling for the Coalition to abandon its commitment to net zero emissions. This statement followed her recent removal from the front bench for not publicly supporting party leader Susan Ley.
Price asserted, “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.” Her speech resonated with the audience, as she argued that the push for net zero emissions is fundamentally about government overreach. “Net zero isn’t just an energy policy… it’s communism,” she declared, emphasizing the perceived threat to personal freedoms.
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who also spoke at the conference, echoed similar sentiments. He devoted much of his address to urging the Liberal Party to reconsider its stance on net zero commitments. His presence reinforced the call for a more hardline approach within the party.
International Perspectives at CPAC
Among the notable speakers was former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, who defended her brief tenure in office and called for the defunding of national broadcasters in Australia. “You need to defund the ABC. I think they’re even worse than the BBC, actually,” she asserted, drawing applause from the audience. Truss’s remarks added an international dimension to the discussions surrounding media accountability and government spending.
Other Queensland politicians, including Matt Canavan, Pauline Hanson, and Amanda Stoker, were also scheduled to speak, indicating a broad spectrum of conservative thought at the event. CPAC Australia is set to continue its discussions, highlighting the ongoing debates within the party and among its supporters.
The events at CPAC 2025 underscore the pressures faced by the Queensland LNP as it navigates internal divisions and external expectations regarding its policies on coal royalties and climate commitments. As the conference progresses, the party’s leadership will need to reconcile the demands of its base with its established policies to maintain unity and effectiveness moving forward.
