Support for climate rally
MORE than a thousand students and others across the Gold Coast are expected to be part of the “Global Climate Strike’’ today, but authorities have warned against skipping classes.
Rallies are planned for Victoria Park at Broadbeach and Ambrose Brown Park at Pottsville, with organisers wanting to highlight the United Nations Climate Action Summit to be held in New York on Monday.
But a Binna Burra resident whose community had suffered heartbreak damage in the Hinterland fires brought the message home to the Gold Coast yesterday.
“Do not let anyone bully you into thinking what happened at Binna Burra in the last 10 days is normal in any way,” said Sally Mackinnon, who is supporting the protest.
“The Binna Burra community, overrun by wildfire, is a living symbol of the global climate emergency in our own backyard.”
On social media yesterday, 1800 people had registered to go to the Broadbeach rally between 11.30am and 2pm.
But an Education Department spokesman said any student not at school or in class without an explanation would be marked absent – which was standard procedure.
“For the safety and wellbeing of students, parents will be contacted ... and asked to provide a reason for the absence,” the spokesman said. “Parents have a legal obligation to ensure their children attend every school day, unless there is a reasonable excuse.
“If a state school student is wearing their school uniform in public, there is an expectation that they will behave responsibly.”
Matthew Ross, who is part of the Gold Coast rally team, said the action was receiving more support than the School Strike 4 Climate marches held in March.
“It is student-led but it has a focus on justice at the forefront. This rally is around the justice issues of workers’ rights, their jobs and a transition away from coal, oil and gas,” Mr Ross said.
He said some Gold Coast private schools had been openly supportive of the rally while public schools had remained reserved.
“It comes down to the leadership of the school. In terms of workplaces, there is concern among those in the public service about being identified as taking part in the event,’’ he said.
Miami State High School student Narii Salmon was dismissive of people who believed school students should not be skipping class.
“If people aren’t happy with us taking one day off school to fight for our futures, then why don’t they vocally disapprove of the one to two-week holidays many take during work or school?” she said.
Police said they were aware of the event.