Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor has abandoned a press conference that was disrupted by two anti-nuclear protesters, in the third example of environmental demonstrators hijacking politicians’ appearances this week.
The Liberal frontbencher was addressing media in Sydney on Thursday afternoon when he was approached from the side by an intruder.
‘I’m sorry to interrupt Mr Taylor, I’m just wondering why… you are asking taxpayers to fund billions of dollars toward nuclear power when it’s going to drive up energy bills?’, the man asked.
The Shadow Treasurer told the man he would speak to him later.
‘Let’s do the press conference and then have a chat afterwards,’ Mr Taylor told the man.
But the protester was not interested in such a ‘chat’ but using the media platform to push his views, saying ‘Australians deserve an answer to this’.
Shadow Minister for Finance Jane Hume, who was standing behind Mr Taylor, smiled awkwardly.
Mr Taylor repeated his offer of a chat but the protester responded: ‘Why not have it on the record?’
The opposition frontbencher was addressing the media in Sydney on Thursday afternoon when he was approached from the side by a man to his left. The protester was soon joined by another man
It came just hours after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton had a major talk derailed by two anti-nuclear protesters (pictured)
At that moment, another demonstrator approached from the other side to harangue the Shadow Treasurer.
Mr Taylor then walked off down the street, shaking his head.
The intrusion came just hours after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton had a major address derailed by two anti-nuclear protesters.
Mr Dutton was addressing the Lowy Institute in Sydney on Thursday morning when an audience member leapt out of his seat to protest the Coalition’s policy of building nuclear power plants.
The man tried to unveil a banner but was stopped by two security guards who quickly bundled him out of the venue.
‘Mr Dutton, why are you lying to the Australian people about the cost of nuclear?’, the man shouted before he was forcibly removed.
The Liberal leader continued detailing the Coalition’s foreign policy agenda unperturbed.
But he was interrupted again just moments later by another man who tried to talk over him.
That protester too was dragged out by a security guard, and fell onto the lap of another attendee in the process.
The Coalition has vowed to build seven nuclear power stations across Australia to reduce carbon dioxide emissions while also providing cheaper, more reliable power than renewables like solar and wind.
Critics of the policy point to the expense of building the plants, and claim it will allow for more gas and coal production in the interim before the nuclear facilities are operational.
It marks a new approach by protesters, to double-up their attack to throw politicians off guard.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers was forced to halt a keynote speech about the nation’s finances when protesters twice crashed the stage on Tuesday.
All three speeches were disrupted by the same activist group, Rising Tide who were responsible for blocking Newcastle Port with kayaks last year.
Zack Schofield who interrupted both Mr Dutton and Mr Taylor’s press conferences on Thursday said the Coalition’s nuclear plan would cost $600 billion to the taxpayer.
‘This idea is so dumb that we’re now even seeing Liberal stalwarts campaigning against their own party, begging Dutton to drop this ridiculous policy,’ he said.
‘We have just seen with ex-tropical cyclone Alfred what the climate crisis is already doing to Australian communities. We cannot afford more distraction and delay with unfeasible policies like nuclear.’