Student strike action on climate
THOUSANDS of schoolchildren walked out of class yesterday to demand Federal Government action on climate change in a series of rallies across the country.
The “Strike 4 Climate Action” – inspired by a 15-yearold Swedish schoolgirl’s activism – involves children in capital cities and 20 regional centres such as Ballarat and Newcastle.
Up to 1000 children packed Sydney’s Martin Place yesterday afternoon, chanting “climate action now,” while similar numbers descended on the Victorian Parliament.
The Melbourne protest blocked off parts of Spring St, according to authorities.
But Resources Minister Matt Canavan said the children were only going to learn how to join the dole queue.
Mr Canavan said he wanted kids in school learning about how to build mines, do geology and how to drill for oil and gas, “which is one of the most remarkable science exploits in the world”.
“These are the type of things that excite young children and we should be great at as a nation,” he told 2GB yesterday. “Taking off school and protesting? You don’t learn anything from that.”