City of Sydney Council support student activists this Friday
Students wagging school on Friday to protest about climate change have the backing of City of Sydney Council, which will waive a $20,000 fee to allow student activists to use the Town Hall for a post protest event later this month.
- City of Sydney wants liquor regulation for music festivals repealed
- Clover Moore calls for air quality monitoring station
- $102 million upgrade of Alexandria Park Community School
Students wagging school on Friday to protest about climate change have the backing of City of Sydney Council, which will waive a $20,000 fee to allow student activists to use the Town Hall for a post protest event later this month.
Councillors voted on Monday night to stand in solidarity with all student activists taking part in the School Strike 4 Climate on Friday, March 15. The students will be gathering outside Sydney Town Hall from midday.
The councillors also agreed to provide value-in-kind sponsorship to the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, worth up to $20,000. This means the council has waived the hire fee for the Town Hall to allow AYCC to hold a climate federal election event on Wednesday, March 27, from 6pm. The aim is to channel the energy from the strike into ongoing community action and advocacy leading up to the election.
An AYCC spokeswoman said the event later this month was “a chance for people of all ages from across Sydney who care about action on climate change to discuss ways to raise awareness in the community and to put solutions to the climate crisis”.
However, not all councillors were in favour of supporting the students.
Liberal councillor Christine Forster slammed the decision and said while she respected the right of anyone to protest about issues they feel strongly about she “cannot endorse schoolchildren striking on a day of school.”
“I do note that the mayoral minute is about the minute on international travel and yet the resolution includes a completely unrelated matter which is support for an in-kind donation for the strike action by students,” she said.
“Children should be in school, learning. They shouldn’t be engaging in political activities, I can see the disapproval of faces in front of me.
“Sadly I’m going to have to oppose this minute,” Cr Forster said.
Students watched in disappointment on Monday night as councillors went back and forth over their support, or lack of, for the protest and sponsorship.
Independent councillor Kerryn Phelps said she supported the City standing in solidarity with students.
“These students are not only learning about community grassroots activism, they are teaching the adults something of this world,” she said.
“It is up to politicians at every level of government to listen to what these young people have to say.”
A City of Sydney spokesman said the council had no jurisdiction over the venue of the protest, Sydney Square.
Students of all ages across Sydney will be joining tens of thousands of people from across the world this week, as part of an international protest to demand action on climate change.
Students will walk out of school, urging politicians to take them seriously “and start treating climate change for what it is: a crisis and the biggest threat to our generation and generations to come,” the Sydney School Strike Facebook page said.
NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes said the law was very clear, “on school days students are required to attend school”.
“We of course want young people to be engaged with environmental issues and in political processes, however, they should do this on their weekends, after school, or during school holidays.
“That’s why the NSW Government has committed $10 million through our sustainable schools initiative to provide students with experience in developing practical solutions to environmental challenges.”
“To everyone who cares about a safe climate future, this is your open invite to join our School Strike 4 Climate on March 15 — students standing up when our politicians won’t.
“Australia is in the thick of the climate crisis.”
The event has already attracted interest online from over 6000 people.
Auburn Girls High School student Nosrat Fareha, one of the organisers of the protest, said she understood the impact climate inaction would have on Australia, but also Bangladesh, where her parents are from.
The 16-year-old said the government “has made it crystal clear that students who are striking on Friday are not in their good books,” she said.
Nosrat said her school would much prefer she didn’t miss a day of learning but were understanding of her reasons.
“My mum often says ‘this is not your job, you’re just a student, the government should be doing something about this.’ My response to her always is ‘but mum they’re not doing anything, which is exactly why we have to strike’.”
Nosrat said she was looking forward to seeing the thousands of people at Town Hall on Friday.
“It gives me a lot of strength to continue what I’m doing knowing that there are thousands of people just like me who are concerned about Australia’s lack of political will to address climate change,” she said.
Just outstanding! The young guns on fire in Waratahs v Reds U15 battle
It’s a taste of things to come, a critical showcase for rising stars of rugby and the annual battle between the NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds under 15s did not disappoint. Stars, photos
‘We are incredibly excited’: Next Gen rugby 7s women turning heads
There were blowouts, close calls, a hot boot and multiple try-fectas in the opening round of the Next Gen Sevens rugby series in Sydney. Stars, great photos and Rd 1 result wrap.