Across most major Australian cities today, University students will be walking out of lectures to take a stand against the Governments lack of action regarding climate change. The horde of Australia’s future leaders have also made their intentions clear, listing 4 specific demands levelled at the government.
Students from Universities in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra and Wollongong will all be taking part in the walkout, organised by The National Union of Students (NUS), which aims to draw more attention to “the biggest issue of our generation”.
Speaking with SBS, NUS President Desiree Cai elaborated on their plans, “A lot of university students have already been standing in solidarity with the school climate strikers. The climate crisis is the defining political issue of our generation and an existential threat to humanity.”
“Climate change is going to affect the way that we work in the future, the way that we live, our quality of life … it’s really scary and daunting.”
The protesters have put forward 4 seemingly reasonable demands to the Federal Government: “No new coal mines or gas fracking, stopping the Adani mine, a full transition to renewables by 2030, and a sustainable jobs guarantee for workers to transition to green industries.”
While the Walkouts are sure to garner the same vitriol from our nation’s Top Brass that their high school counterparts received during their Walkout earlier in the year, the Universities themselves have voiced stern support for the student’s direct action.
The National Tertiary Education Union is urging University staff to not only avoid punishing students who Walkout, but to join them in solidarity. Union president Alison Barnes has publicly backed the Walkouts.
Minister for Education Dan Tehan issued a statement to SBS, confirming the department “supports the right to lawful and peaceful protest.”
For more information on the Walkouts, you can check out the event here.
