Thursday, 30 November 2023

Student political engagement

Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (10:18): Last week students came together to march in solidarity with the Palestinian people. The week before they were on our streets calling for our governments to take climate action. These passionate and engaged young people want us to hear them loud and clear in their calls for action, be it for a ceasefire in Gaza or for an end to fossil fuel investment for the climate. Earlier this year federal Labor minister Anne Aly said:

… I want to ensure that young people feel that they can have political participation, feel that they can have a voice, feel that they can make a change. Look at the change the young people made when they took to the streets for climate action.

She specifically referenced the School Strike 4 Climate – emphasis on the strike part. Students are looking at the world, looking at their future and have made the decision to use the tools that they have, their school time, to strike and send a message to their government. Yes, students are meant to be in class – that is why they call it a strike. The Greens support young people striking and participating in peaceful political action. They wanted our attention. They now have it. Are you listening?