Students out in force for Hobart School Strike for Climate

UPDATED: A huge number of people have crowded Hobart’s streets for the School Strike for Climate at Parliament Lawns. SEE THE GALLERY AND VIDEOS

IN one of the largest rallies in Tasmania in recent memory, thousands of protesters have filled Parliament Lawns and surrounds to demand action on climate change.

Waving placards, cheering and chanting, yesterday’s crowd then marched through nearby streets to make their message known.

A strong contingent of students joined adults young and old for the rally, which was one of more than 110 held in cities and towns across the country as part of the climate strike movement.

Crowd estimates varied, but police said the Hobart event drew about 15,000.

MC, Taroona High School Year 10 student Caitlin Ross, said it was significant that so many students had skipped school to attend the rally.

“It shows that this is an issue that involves everyone — young or old, students or workers — it shows so many people are willing to skip school or miss work for such an important cause,’’ she said.

“We are going to become extinct as a human race if we do not take action on climate change.”

Thousands hit the streets for Hobart climate strike

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Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the big crowd at the rally sent a strong message. “This is a message to our leaders — listen to the kids, listen to the people, they are demanding change,’’ she said.

Tasmanian actor Bonnie Sveen, who stars in Home and Away, attended the rally with daughter Emerald. She said it was inspiring to see so many people turn out.

“I’m just so concerned for our environment’s future, the planet of our children and of the natural order of our climate,’’ she said.

Former Tasmania Fire Service chief officer Mike Brown spoke about the devastating impact of catastrophic fires that he said were becoming more common.

Hobart city Councillor Zelinda Sherlock said politicians needed to take decisive action.

“Put down your ideologies, pick up your principles and walk across party lines and go and talk to people who can actually make change,’’ she said.

Tasmania Police Senior Constable Ann Edge said the strong police presence in the area was about ensuring people’s safety.

“Organisers expected around 15,000 to attend and I would say that goal was reached,’’ she said.

Scotch Oakburn student Chloe McCann, 18, helped organise the Launceston strike which also drews thousands.

“The point we are at the moment is pivotal,” she said.

“[We want] to make sure that [the government] know that this is an issue for us, this is something that we’re passionate about.”

Launceston College Year 12 student Anna Roberts told the crowd: “We simply cannot afford to not demand justice, demand action, demand change”.

“I know sometimes it feels like that change is something out of your reach, but look around you.

“Think about all the people striking right now, right here in little Launceston all the way to Greta Thunberg, who is striking today in New York.”

Minister for Science and Technology Michael Ferguson said people were free to express their personal views.

“But what concerns me greatly is Labor’s shadow economic development and jobs minister Michelle O’Byrne has actively supported the message, which unfortunately takes away from the great gains that have been made in Tasmania,” he said.

“We’re nearly 100 per cent emissions free and nearly 100 per cent renewable. I mean, what could be better than that?

“If some of the organisers of these rallies got their way, we would lose thousands of jobs at Bell Bay and industrial precincts around Tasmania.”

Labor environment spokeswoman Alison Standen said climate change was no longer a vague or distant threat.

“It is here and it is having environmental, social and economic impacts that cannot be ignored. The Hodgman and Morrison governments must act, in response to the leadership shown by thousands of young Tasmanians today,’’ she said.

A government spokesperson said it was focused on delivering its Climate Action 21 Plan.

“Tasmania has the lowest level of emissions in the nation and we are on track to achieve our target to be 100 per cent renewable by 2022,’’ the spokesperson said.

CRASH, CLIMATE STRIKE SLOW CBD TRAFFIC TO A CRAWL