NSW state election: Labor leader endorses climate strike

NSW Opposition Leader Michael Daley has firmly endorsed stud­ents skipping school to attend climate­ change protest rallies.

A student protest in Sydney last year. Picture: Getty

NSW Opposition Leader Michael Daley has firmly endorsed stud­ents skipping school to attend climate­ change protest rallies in Sydney and other cities tomorrow, declaring it an opportunity for them to “realise their own person­al power”.

Mr Daley’s position that it was the “right thing” for students to join a school strike, “because we’re at a real crossroads in relation to climate change”, drew fire from Premier Gladys Berejiklian, who told The Australian the Labor leader’s support for the school strike was “completely irresponsible’’ and “quite shocking’’.

NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes slammed Mr Daley’s support of the protest, warning that an absence from school to attend the strike would breach the law.

Mr Stokes said by walking out of classes, students were being “robbed” of education opportunities.

“The first part of leadership for a political representative is to uphold the law, and he (Mr Daley) is failing to do that,” Mr Stokes told 2GB radio on Thursday.

Mr Daley, addressing the Nation­al Press Club in Sydney, where he declared that action on climate change would be a priority if Labor won next week’s state election, gave his unequivocal suppor­t to the planned students’ school strike. He said young people­ needed a voice on the issues­ they cared about.

“They don’t have a microphone, they don’t have money like the big end of town,” he said.

“But they do have their democratic right to assemble. They have a right to protest.

“I support these young people and their action. It’s a demonstration of young leadership.”

The school strike has attracted strong criticism from Scott Mor­rison down because of the example­ it might set for students to avoid school whenever they chose, and because it broke the requiremen­t set down under the NSW Education Act for daily atten­dance except during illness.

Ms Berejiklian said she always encouraged children to express their views on important matters such as climate change. “However, they must attend school during school hours,’’ she said.

“I find it very concerning that the Leader of the Opposition would suggest students should attend­ a protest rather than attend school. This is a completely irresponsible comment from him. It is quite shocking.”

There is also concern among NSW government sources that the students’ strike was being “manip­ulated by adult activist groups” and ignored that the walkout­ would be held on the same day as a government-endorsed­ “nationa­l day of action against bullying” in schools.

Asked by The Australian how he would respond to criticism about advocating students break the law a week out from possibly becoming Premier, taking charge as the state’s chief lawmaker, and overseeing the NSW Education Department, Mr Daley said his leadership was based on calling something for “what it is”.

“That’s what I was taught to do by my parents, and I do that ­because I believe things are right,” he said.

“Sometimes you have to shake the tree a little bit, and if I have a choice between calling it, even if it’s brave, or not upsetting the apple cart so I don’t draw criticis­m from the media and other sources, I’ll choose the former every time.”

He urged striking students to stay safe and gain permission from parents to skip school and attend the rallies.

Mr Stokes, an environmental lawyer before entering parliament, said the Coalition believed it was vital to protect and preserve the environment for the future.

He said the government was committed to “zero net emissions” by 2050 and wanted young people to be engaged with the issues and involved in the political process.

“However, they should do this on their weekends, after school, or during school holidays,” he said.