Anti-nuclear group targets Gippsland MP’s office

Darren Chester says despite protesters’ weekly “sit-ins”, nuclear power is not the hot button issue ahead of the election in Gippsland.

Nuclear power is not the defining issue of the federal election in Victoria’s Gippsland, despite the electorate being named as a potential host of one of seven nuclear plants, Nationals MP Darren Chester says.

The office of the Gippsland MP of 17 years has been targeted by antinuclear group Nannas Against Nuclear, and offshoot of Voices of the Valley, which has taken to camping outside Mr Chester’s Traralgon base every Tuesday to make their opposition to a nuclear reactor being built nearby known.

Mr Chester said a small number of environmental activists were running a scare campaign targeting his office, despite most Gippslanders being “open-minded” on the issue of nuclear power.

“The vast majority of Gippslanders who have contacted my office are keen to learn more about nuclear technology and there is a high level of energy literacy in our region,” Mr Chester said.

He said he has met with many of those concerned and listened to their views during hearings for the House of Representatives’ inquiry into nuclear power generation late last year, “so I am well aware of their position”.

President of the Voices of the Valley Wendy Farmer is sitting outside Mr Chester’s Traralgon office every week in opposition to the Coalition’s nuclear power plan.

But Nannas Against Nuclear spokeswoman Wendy Farmer, who lives within 30km of Loy Yang – one of seven sites the Coalition has earmarked to host a nuclear plant – said the group wanted a private meeting with Mr Chester to air their concerns around water requirements, radiation leakage and job creation.

“The people on the street, I reckon the majority, 80 per cent don’t want nuclear or don’t understand it, but when people approach Darren Chester he doesn’t want to talk about it,” Ms Farmer said.

She said between seven and 10 people were joining her peaceful weekly “sit-in” outside Mr Chester’s office, either knitting or chatting.

But Latrobe Business City Chamber president Peter Ceeney said he wouldn’t count nuclear power as a hot topic ahead of the federal election.

“I think the cost of living is a far greater issue,” he said.

“Everything you buy costs more than it used to, from energy to groceries to your general bills, insurance is out of control, car registration, everything you need to live.

“I’ve had a few discussions around nuclear but I think it’s too late. If the renewables sector keeps filling the gap people will probably lean in that direction.”

When the Coalition announced its nuclear policy in June last year, leader Peter Dutton named seven retiring or defunct power sites as potential nuclear plants, including the Latrobe Valley’s coal fire power station Loy Yang, which is due to close in 10 years as owner AGL shifts to renewables.

Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester stands in front of Loy Yang, which the Coalition has named as a potential nuclear power plant site.

Mr Chester said the Coalition has committed to full site assessments and community consultation over more than two years if it wins office at the weekend.

“I’m not an expert on nuclear energy and I am keeping an open mind about our region’s suitability to host a nuclear power station as existing coal-fired assets reach the end of their useful lives,” he said.

“Energy security and affordability is a significant issue but it’s not the only issue in this campaign.

“Gippslanders are telling me they are worse off, with the cost of living crisis in recent years undermining their ability to afford their own home and balance the family budget,” he said.

Originally published as Anti-nuclear group targets Gippsland MP’s office