04/05/2019

Tears Outside PM's Office As Students Skip School To Demand Climate Action Again

ABC NewsPaige Cockburn


'What's going to happen to the whole world?': Sydney student (ABC News)

Key points:
  • Many of the speakers at events around Australia railed against the proposed Adani coal mine
  • In Melbourne about 1,000 people attended a rally in the CBD and police blocked a section of Exhibition Street
  • Former prime minister Tony Abbott's office in Sydney was also a hot spot
There were tears outside Scott Morrison's office in Sydney's south, but the biggest crowds were in Melbourne where thousands of students skipped school to demand action on climate change.
About 70 demonstrations were held around Australia — hundreds turned out at the Prime Minister's office in Cronulla, although most in the crowd there were older than school age.
Stella Brazier, 14, burst into tears when asked about her decision to attend.
"It just upsets me so much because I just don't now if they [politicians] are going to do anything," she said.
"What's going to happen to humankind, what's going to happen to the whole world?"
Former prime minister Tony Abbott's office in Warringah was also a hot spot.
Students held signs with slogans such as "denial is not a policy" and "what we stand for is what we stand on" while chanting "time up's Tony".
Anthony Albanese's office in Marrickville was a hot spot for protesters. (ABC News: Jamie Toomey)
Keish Davis, 15, said her family fully supported her choice to leave school for the day to attend the protest.
"We would be in school if the politicians were doing their job," she said.
"I don't believe Australia's Prime Minister is doing a good enough job securing my future and the future of all generations to come."

Biggest crowds in Melbourne
Many of the speakers in capital cities railed against the Adani coal mine, in central Queensland, and demanded Australia increase its take-up of renewable energy.
In Melbourne, Exhibition Street was closed and the roller door pulled down on Liberal headquarters as 1,000 school strikers turned up the heat.
Police blocked a section of Exhibition Street for the protests in Melbourne. (ABC News: Daryl Torpy)
Emma Demarchi, 17, said this was indicative of the Government's approach to young people.
"This shows us just how scared this Government is of the power of young people," she said.
"Shutting streets and roller doors in the face of peaceful student rallies is not something the Liberal Party can be proud of."
Greens leader Richard Di Natale said students were giving an education to politicians.
"They are teaching them what is important, and what is important, is their future and taking strong action on climate change," he said.
"Tony Abbott's the problem here ... he has been arrogant and dismissive of the voices of young people."
Hundreds of people marched to Exchange Plaza in Perth as part of the protest. (ABC News: David Weber)
In Perth, a crowd of about 300 people marched to Exchange Plaza in the CBD to make their voices heard.
Meanwhile, in Adelaide, more than 100 protestors gathered at Boothby Liberal candidate Nicolle Flint's office.
Holding signs and chanting, the group criticised Ms Flint's record on the environment, particularly her support of pro-coal group Monash Forum.
Primary school student Nikolai Patrick said it was time for politicians to listen to young people.
"I would probably say they need to turn their minds around and think slightly differently about the environment and what that can do to us," she said.

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