Strike ignores kids from bush
AS THOUSANDS of Aussie kids march out of classrooms demanding climate change action today, regional parents are worried the stunt is ignoring the needs of youngsters in the bush.
The School Strike For Climate event has been slammed by Queensland families and industry bodies, spurring claims that city kids weren’t listening to bush kids.
Tens of thousands of students worldwide – including in Brisbane, Townsville and Rockhampton – will ditch the books to protest.
It joins new data from the Brotherhood of St Laurence which revealed the youth unemployment rate in outback Queensland was 25.7 per cent – the highest in the country.
Rockhampton family Maurice and Victoria Murray have raised their five children on a mining income. Mauri- ce’s wages allowed Victoria to be a stay at home mum, provide a good education and support their eldest daughter through law school.
“I don’t think they (protesting students) have an understanding of what it is like to live in rural Australia,” the mother said.
“The city kids aren’t listening to the bush kids.
“It would shut central Queensland down if something were to happen to the mining industry.”
About 5000 students are expected to strike in Brisbane, however, it’s not known how many will in regional Queensland.
Students are encouraged to protest for up to two hours today, with the event placing particular emphasis on Adani’s Carmichael coal mine that’s proposed for the Galilee Basin.
Education Minister Grace Grace said any protest “should be done outside of school hours” and students were expected to attend school.
“Parents are encouraged to let the school know of any planned absences. This ensures parents and the school know students are safe,” Ms Grace said.
“School principals will determine what consequences, if any, need to be applied under the school’s responsible behaviour plan.”
Queensland Secondary Principals’ Association president Mark Breckenridge urged parents to think carefully about “taking a day away” from their childrens’ learning.
“We encourage kids to be at school every day and that parents and students need to consider that in terms of making decisions,” he said.
“Any absence of a student is disruptive to their learning.”
Father KC Schneider’s son – Carter, 6 – will not be participating in the strike.
Mr Schneider said he did not support the action and children should be at school to learn.
“A lot of those kids are too young to understand what it’s all about anyway,” he said.
“It would be something that’s forced on them by their parents.”
Rockhampton councillor Neil Fisher said if Queensland mining shut down tomorrow, one in four Rockhampton families would be unemployed.
“Ever since our towns have been around there has been mining,” he said.
Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker said the mining region provided $1.5 billion in royalties to Queensland.
She said while it was encouraging to see young people taking interest, she wasn’t convinced the whole story was understood.
“We need to have an informed view,” she said.