Video shows student climate change protesters ambushing Tony Abbott in Manly cafe

Watch the moment high school students ambush Tony Abbott in a cafe, while protests against climate change are being held outside his Manly office.

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A video has emerged of students ambushing Liberal MP Tony Abbott in a cafe while a climate change protest raged just metres away outside his Manly office.

Elsie Loadman and Yasmin Lin, both aged 15, learned Mr Abbott was at nearby Hemingway’s cafe during the protest on Friday which saw 400 noisy students and their supporters gather in Sydney Rd.

It was part of a nationwide protest with thousands of children particpating in more than 70 school strikes.

Students ambush Tony Abbott over climate change in a cafe in Manly.

Ms Loadman, who is a Manly Selective student, but who lives in Wheeler Heights, led the “cordial confrontation”, but said she was “left speechless” by his replies.

In the video she tells Mr Abbott that she “wants climate action now”.

Student Elise Loadman Yasmin Lin, 15, ambush Tony Abbott over climate change in a cafe in Manly.

He replied by saying everything you do has an economic cost and, “how high a cost, that’s the question?”.

He also said in the video that the ice age was climate change and that modest atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations over the next couple of decades would not bring about the “climate environmental catastrophe” they seemed to fear.

A climate change protest was happening at the same time outside Mr Abbott’s office in Manly. Picture: Julie Cross.

He told them it was his duty to tell them the truth, not just agree with them.

“In respect you are mistaken,” he said.

In the video the girls add their own commentary in between each of their questions.

“It was disappointing to hear his blatant denial of climate change,” Ms Loadman told the Manly Daily.

She added that she was shocked at Mr Abbott’s stance on climate change, one of the key challenges for her future.

Students ambush Tony Abbott over climate change in a cafe in Manly.

“Tony Abbott is meant to represent Warringah but he isn’t listening to the science, he isn’t listening to our community, and he isn’t serious about climate change,” she said.

“I’m really scared my generation, and the generations after me, will pay a high price for a lack of action on climate change now. It’s only going to get worse if we don’t take action today.

Tony Abbott was seen having coffee at Hemingway’s a few hundred metres away from the protests outside his Manly electorate office.

“The majority of people in the Warringah community want a plan to deal with climate change, including to stop Adani, end dirty coal and move towards 100 per cent renewable energy. We deserve a government that takes climate change and our future seriously.

“Our political leaders must take the urgent, strong action needed to protect us from the worst impacts of climate change. If Mr Abbott won’t listen to our community and act on climate change, then he should stand aside for leaders who will.”

Climate change protest Manly. Picture: Julie Cross.

Ms Loadman revealed students were planning on lobbying voters outside polling stations on May 18.

She added that while, the two students did not agree with Mr Abbott they said they appreciated him answering their questions.

Mr Abbott later said children should not wag school to protest.

“I think they shouldn’t do it, I think that when you’re at school you’re there to learn, you’re not there to be an activist,” he said.

“I think school teachers who encourage activism in their kids, certainly activism in school hours, are actually doing their kids damage.

“If you are a school teacher, it’s a very honorable vocation, you are absolutely duty-bound to do the right thing by your kids, not to hurt them.”

He said he had spoken to several children inside Hemingway’s while having a coffee.

“As I said to the kids in there who came to see me, I said I respect your idealism and your passion, but my duty is to tell you what I believe is the truth,” he said.