Brisbane CBD traffic: CFMEU & climate activists protests cause delays
Major protests involving unionists and climate activists targeting the ALP national conference sparked roadblocks and traffic delays in Brisbane’s CBD this morning. WATCH THE VIDEO
Brisbane City
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Thousands of CFMEU members and climate change activists have stormed the Brisbane CBD this morning to protest outside Labor’s national conference.
The protests caused major traffic delays across the CBD with police running rolling roadblocks throughout the morning.
Motorists on Brisbane’s M3 were kept waiting up 10 minutes while those travelling through the Inner City Bypass also experienced delays.
CFMEU members gathered early in Queen’s Garden before marching to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre where Labor’s major decision-making forum was taking place.
Climate change activists also gathered outside the venue just 20 metres away from the union protest. They were calling on Labor to “end the climate emergency” by stopping its promotion of fossil fuels.
CFMEU members demanded an end to the housing crisis, calls to tax windfall profits and for authorities to halt the deadly engineered stone industry.
The union wants a ban on engineered stone in both large construction sites and smaller housing builds.
“If they don’t ban this import than politicians will have blood on their hands,” Queensland secretary Jade Ingham said on Thursday morning.
“We elected them and it’s about time they represented us.”
New CFMEU national secretary Zach Smith has addressed the crowd.
“We can’t let the Labor Party forget they were founded on the working class,” Mr Smith said.
“We have a product, engineered stone, 1 in 4 workers are dying in their prime. That is a death sentence. Will our political class accept that figure.”
Separately environmentalists gathered outside the convention centre calling for stronger action against climate change with grand plans of forming “a giant human clock together send a clear message to Labor”.
“We want the policy makers to hear our call, the voices of the collective, people power,” activists chanted.
“Labor are a bunch of polished turds.”
Queensland Police, in a social media announcement, warned of traffic delays through the CBD, Victoria Bridge and Southbank from 7am to 10am.
“Motorists are urged to consider alternate routes and allow sufficient time for your trip,” a spokesman said.
Heads up, Brisbane City and surrounds!
— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) August 16, 2023
Traffic delays are expected tomorrow throughout the CBD, Victoria Bridge and Southbank from 7am to 10am due to a protest march.
Motorists are urged to consider alternate routes and allow sufficient time for your trip. pic.twitter.com/SR0pLQnPxW
Labor members opposed to the trilateral AUKUS defence deal were also expected to protest on Friday.
Labor’s national conference is the party’s highest decision-making forum, with policy decisions passed by nearly 400 voting delegates set to be binding at a federal level.
The Brisbane-based conference is the first time the meeting has been held in Queensland since the 1970s.
More than 2000 people are expected to attend, including the Prime Minister and every Labor state premier and chief minister.
The conference runs from Thursday to Saturday.
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