Up to 5000 Sydney students have defied the Prime Minister Scott Morrison's instruction to stay in the classroom by going on strike to protest against the federal government's climate change policies.
The Big School Walkout took place in Martin Place in Sydney’s CBD with students gathering from 11am and loud cheers and chanting whenever a new group arrived.
A smattering of police officers gathered on the fringes.
One of the chants was “Hey hey, ho ho, ScoMo has got to go” referring to Scott Morrison, who, this week, condemned the proposed strike.
The NSW Education Department threatened that public school students could face disciplinary action.
An estimated 15,000 students across Australia walked out of school, in every national city and 20 regional towns, demanding politicians take urgent action on climate change and stop Adani’s coal mine.
Ahead of the protest, a Sutherland Shire student wrote:
“Dear Mr Prime Minister Morrison,
My name is Portia Solari. I am 17 years old and live in Cronulla, in your electorate.
I am joining hundreds of kids around the country this week to send a message to you as the leader of our country to please take our futures seriously.
Climate change is a crisis and it’s already hurting people in Australia and other people around the world. It will only get worse if you don’t take urgent action to make it better.
Otherwise me and other kids will not have as good a chance as you did to have a good life.
We are striking from school to show how serious we are.
We are willing to risk our education because this problem is so important to us, and we don’t understand what the point of learning facts at school is if politicians keep ignoring them.
Please will you meet with us and at least hear what we have to say?
I can meet you in your office in our community with some of my friends?
And other kids will be at Parliament House this Wednesday —can you meet with them and hear what they have to say?
We need to know that you are serious about protecting our futures or what hope do we have?”
Yours sincerely
Portia
Peakhurst resident Gary Volk, who was passing by, expressed scepticism about the students’ motives.
‘‘Boys and girls, they join to be together, it doesn’t matter what. I am against these type of activities,’’ Mr Volk said.
He was also doubtful about human ability to repair the damage already done.
‘‘We have to accept it. I don’t believe we can do something about it.’’
The strike went ahead despite the NSW Education Department threatening public school students with disciplinary action.
‘‘Any student not in classes on a school day will be marked absent and may be subject to the school’s disciplinary code,’’ a spokesperson said.
When the peaceful protest ended after about an hour and 40 minutes, no trace of rubbish was left behind.
