Rising Tide activists crash Coalition events

Anti-nuclear climate activists disrupted a series of Coalition media events on Thursday, including a speech by Peter Dutton

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor with Liberal candidate for Wentworth Ro Knox during a press conference in Woollahra on Thursday. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Anti-nuclear climate activists disrupted a series of Coalition media events on Thursday, including a speech by Peter Dutton, with two members of Rising Tide getting within arm’s length of opposition energy spokesman Angus Taylor and forcing the frontbencher to abandon his press conference.

Despite the rise in threats against politicians in recent years, activists were able to enter a Lowy Institute event hosting the Coalition leader on Thursday before being thrown out.

One activist, Zack Schofield, held up a banner reading “nuclear lies cost us all” while shouting “why are you lying to the Australian people about the cost of nuclear?”.

The incident took place despite the fact Mr Dutton has an Australian Federal Police detail, which has been the case for several years.

Asked about the incidents, an AFP spokesman said “the AFP does not provide specific details on protection matters involving Australian high office holders and parliamentarians. The AFP takes seriously the protection of high office holders and parliamentarians and significantly invests in their safety”.

Rising Tide refused to divulge how it planned both disruptions, and how it was able to do so unbeknown to security services.

A protester interrupts Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton as he delivers an address to the Lowy Institute in Sydney. John Feder/The Australian

Threats to federal parliamentarians reported to the AFP nearly doubled between 2023 and 2024, with more than 1000 incidents involving harassment, nuisance or offensive and threatening communications reported in the last financial year.

While activists were thrown out of the Lowy Institute event, their disruption caused Mr Taylor to end his press conference in Sydney all together.

“Why are you asking taxpayers to fund nuclear power, when it’s going to drive up energy prices?” one activist asked after approaching Mr Taylor.

“You’re talking about cost of living and this is a flagship policy that you are asking Australian citizens to fund billions and billions. Your own party is campaigning against nuclear power.”

Mr Taylor sought to diffuse the situation by telling the protesters he was happy to discuss the matter with them after the press conference.

However, the two men continued pressing the Liberal frontbencher with questions about the launch of Liberals Against Nuclear and the disagreement within the conservative party over the policy.

“Your own party has started campaigning against your nuclear policy. Why is the party campaigning against itself on this flagship policy?” one activist asked.

Mr Taylor became agitated as he walked away from the media event, telling the activists “come on, we’re doing a press conference”.

Recent disruptions by climate activists are not confined to those at Coalition events, with Jim Chalmers’s speech at the Queensland Media Club on Tuesday interrupted by protesters demanding “no new coal and gas” before being escorted off the stage.

Warringah independent Zali Steggall said while she believed such protests were preferable to those that shut down streets and businesses across Australia, she did not condone anything that might be constituted as a security threat.

“Maybe it raises questions as to the level of security and how they have engaged with that event,” she told Sky News.

In a statement about the group’s protest, Mr Schofield 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.”