House debates Questions without Notice

Climate Change

Wednesday, 15 November 2023 House of Representatives

Stephen Bates

Stephen Bates Brisbane, Australian Greens

2:11 pm

My question is to the Minister for Education. Most high school students can't vote, yet the decision of your government to push more coal and gas is harming their future. That is a big reason why this Friday students will hold a school strike for climate, gathering in their thousands in cities and towns across the country. Minister, do you support the students being able to strike this Friday and to leave school to protest for climate action and against more coal and gas?

Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting

Milton Dick

Milton Dick Speaker

Order! Members on my left will not interject while questions are being asked.

Jason Clare

Jason Clare Blaxland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Education

2:12 pm

I thank the member for his question. My view is, I hope, pretty uncontroversial—that school students should be at school during school hours. I want our to kids to be passionate, I want our kids to care about democracy and I want to our kids to care about the future, but I also want our kids at school.