Last week’s landmark youth protests against the government’s inaction on climate change has effectively spilled into a second week, with a student activist framing last night’s Q&A around the momentous issue.
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Speaking to a panel including political troubadour Billy Bragg and former Liberal Party senator Amanda Vanstone, 17-year-old Marco Bellemo asked “when will the government start to care about my future and the children around the world by acting on climate change and creating a strong climate policy?”
The question was considered first by Bragg, who latched on to the contentious comments of Liberal Senator Matt Canvan – you know, the ones about how all those kids striking were destined for the dole queue.
“They know about coal. That’s why they’re on the streets. That’s why he’s out there, they already know the facts,” Bragg said.
Vanstone said protesting can be a useful lesson in democracy, but added “It makes me sad to hear a young person say ‘people don’t care about my future’” considering the policies both major parties have in place – no matter how lenient they may actually be on carbon emissions.
“I don’t believe” that both major actually care about climate change, Bellemo responded, “because I see the Liberal Party wanting to build new coal [power stations], when we should be clearly transitioning to renewable energy, to help save lives.
“Like, climate change is killing people, it’s causing so much (sic) national disasters. We need to transition. And if you’re supporting the fossil fuel industry then you don’t truly care about the future generations.”
When will the Government listen to our children by acting on climate change and creating a strong climate policy? #QandA pic.twitter.com/fXCs0QGkn3
— QandA (@QandA) December 3, 2018
It was pretty clear stuff from a kid who did actually attend the demonstrations and says he was active in mobilising protest action at his own school. You can catch the full exchange HERE.
