Logan resident Warren Fraser last week joined dozens of others protesting a pro-nuclear forum run by one of the city’s federal MPs.
Around 12 people dressed in hazmat suits and masks, pushing fake barrels of nuclear waste, protested outside the LNP Future Energy Forum held by Forde MP Bert van Manen at Upper Coomera.
Mr Fraser said the group protested to remind Australians of the risks associated with nuclear power.
“With nuclear power, we’re dealing with extraordinarily toxic substances and despite humanity’s best efforts there have been hundreds of nuclear accidents,” he said
“The hazmat suits and fake radioactive containers were a bit of theatre, but the issue is actually deadly serious.
“We don’t need to introduce this risk. Electricity from renewables already accounts for 40% of Australia’s power and independent experts at CSIRO have confirmed renewable power backed up with storage is cheaper than nuclear power.”
Mr Fraser said nuclear power was too expensive, too slow and too toxic.
Mr van Manen argued the “renewables-only” approach was costing Australians.
“Energy underpins everything. When energy prices go up, so does everything else,” he said.
“I’m yet to meet a single resident in Forde who can tell me their electricity costs have stagnated or decreased.
“Some business owners have told me their bills have shot up by 150%.
“It all has a snowball effect, and the people of Forde ultimately lose out.”
Mr van Manen said the purpose of the forum was to have an “open and honest debate” about energy and what alternatives there might be.
Around 150 people attended the forum.
A similar event in Beenleigh last year attracted around 80 people.
“We had people in the room who are all for the Coalition’s plans, some vehemently opposed and some undecided,” Mr van Manen said.
“Others, we predict, who wanted to attend, might have been turned away by the ‘welcome party’.
“People have the right to peacefully protest, and I’d never suggest otherwise. However, what people don’t have the right to do is menace and scare members of the community, especially children.”
He said the protesters were photographing children, “bringing young kids to tears” and arguing with parents as they left a nearby childcare centre.
He said it was reprehensible and the group needed to “rethink their methods”.
Another protester, Dave Tucker, said a parent and her two children enjoyed the theatrics and wanted to be photographed.
“Most of us are grandparents and we are doing it for our children’s future and that is our approach to this,” Mr Tucker said.
“I didn’t see any distressed children.
“I think the manager (of the childcare centre) was getting a little stressed and the children may have picked that up.
“It was a very peaceful protest… that is my impression of what occurred.”
