Students miss school to call on MPs to take emergency action ‘because this is our future’

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

School students protesting climate change have arrived in Canberra after the prime minister told them to be less activist and go back to school.

Hundreds of students lined up outside Parliament House on Wednesday wanting to speak to Scott Morrison and government ministers about taking emergency action against climate change.

On Tuesday, the Senate approved a motion to support the students in their decision to strike from school and hold a series of planned national protests.

Students across the country plan to leave school this week, with protests in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Hobart scheduled for Friday.

On Wednesday it was the turn of Canberra students, who waited in the rain outside parliament and met with Labor, Greens and crossbench MPs, including the federal Greens leader, Richard Di Natale.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Australian Greens leader Richard Di Natale at Parliament House with students from the school walkout for climate action. Photograph: Australian Greens

School Strike 4 Climate (@StrikeClimate) 200 school strikers are queueing to go inside Federal Parliament RN! #ClimateStrike pic.twitter.com/dmf35wxoYx

Matilda, 9, held a sign that said “Beware: Radical student activist”. Riley, 12, told the crowd: “The politicians aren’t helping and we need to take action to save our climate.”

“You need to help us because this is our future,” he said.

School Strike 4 Climate (@StrikeClimate) Matilda, age 9 is ready to take on @ScottMorrisonMP for failure to act on climate change #auspol pic.twitter.com/D1EClwUDoP

Ged Kearney (@gedkearney) A brilliant, soggy morning with the kids who are striking to demand action on climate action #meetthekids #climatestrike pic.twitter.com/XEdxawpFlj

On Monday Morrison said in question time that the students “should go to school”, in response to a question from Greens MP Adam Bandt.

“These brave and courageous kids are joining young people around the world who are angry at the failure of governments,” Bandt asked. “Will you meet with and listen to these kids?”

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The prime minister replied that climate change was “a very real and serious issue” but that “kids should go to school”.

“We don’t support our schools being turned into parliaments,” he said. “What we want is more learning in schools and less activism.”

Play Video 1:00 Scott Morrison tells kids going on climate strike to get back to school – video

But a day later, the Senate narrowly voted to approve a motion from Greens senators Jordon Steele-John and Mehreen Faruqi that showed support for the striking students.

On Wednesday, Steele-John, Labor MPs Ged Kearney and Julie Owens, and Centre Alliance MP Rebehka Sharkie also met the students to hear their concerns.

• #MyClimateQuestions: experts and youth leaders answer your questions about climate change and political action