Page 913 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 20 March 2019
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Members of the opposition including Ms Lee claim that participating in the school strike was not a constructive way to bring attention to the issue. But as we have seen, students across Australia have successfully brought attention to the issue of climate change in a peaceful, inclusive and well-organised manner. It is completely uncalled for for members of the opposition to suggest that students used the strike as an excuse to skip school. Education and understanding on the issue of climate change are precisely what motivated students to participate in the strike. I believe that participating in activism on significant political issues is a learning experience in itself.
It concerns me that school-aged children have grasped the seriousness of climate change whilst the Canberra Liberals and their federal coalition counterparts have failed to acknowledge the facts and continue to ignore the relentless calls for action. We have seen time and time again that Liberal and National politicians right across the country are in denial when it comes to taking action on climate change, so it is unsurprising albeit bitterly upsetting that members of the Canberra Liberals are choosing to ignore the voices of our young Canberrans and reject them from the conversation altogether.
I see it as my duty as a member of this Assembly to do everything I can to help mobilise our future leaders, especially on issues as significant as climate change. I am proud of the way that ACT Labor values the voices of young Canberrans, and I will continue to support young people on issues that affect them and their future. We should be congratulating these students on their activism efforts and for channelling their frustration with the federal government into something productive.
Unlike many members opposite, ACT Labor have heard the requests put forward by students loud and clear. Students have called for 100 per cent renewable energy and have protested against the establishment of new coalmines. I wholeheartedly support the climate strikers and their vision for a cleaner Australia. I join them in calling on all elected representatives to take real leadership on this issue.
School strike for climate change
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (6.54): I also want to speak about the school strike for climate in Canberra that Ms Orr has just spoken about. I attended along with my Greens colleague Ms Le Couteur last Friday. This was one of many events all over Australia and the world that involved young people leaving school and publicly calling for action on climate change. The Canberra rally was very well attended, with several thousand students as well as adults who were attending in solidarity.
I will quote the explanation given by the students themselves as to why they organised and attended this event, because I think that is the best way to capture it. They say:
Our planet earth is precious and can’t be replaced.
Our politicians can show that they care about our futures by treating climate change for what it is—a crisis—and taking urgent action to move Australia beyond fossil fuel projects (e.g. #StopAdani!!) to 100% renewable energy for all.
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