Seventeen-year-old Grace Goldman should be focusing on her HSC exams, but instead she found herself marching through Newcastle's CBD last Friday, joining dozens of other students in a climate protest that saw them walk out of school.
The Fear Driving Student Activism
As a Year 12 student beginning her final exams, Goldman represents a generation increasingly anxious about their future. The climate crisis has become so pressing that students are willing to sacrifice classroom time to demand action from Australia's political leaders.
"I don't want to miss school," Goldman explains, "but protesting is the only way I can have my voice heard." Like many young Australians, she experiences climate anxiety that keeps her awake at night, fueled by what she sees as government inaction on environmental issues.
Government Promises Versus Reality
The protest comes amid growing frustration with the Albanese government's environmental record. Despite winning an election with strong climate promises, the government has approved four new fossil fuel projects in just three months.
These approvals are particularly alarming to young activists because the projected emissions from these projects total 4.14 billion tonnes CO2-e - equivalent to 9.5 times Australia's current annual emissions.
Goldman points to the contradiction between the government's stated priorities and its actions. "Prime Minister Anthony Albanese claims 'social media is doing social harm to our children,' but climate change is the biggest threat to children," she says.
The Financial Priorities Questioned
The protesters highlighted what they see as misplaced government spending priorities. Australia's fossil fuel subsidies have reached a record $67 billion in forward estimates, while the nation's disaster response fund sits at just $4.75 billion.
Students also questioned why the government collects more than four times more revenue from HECS debt repayments than from the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT), with that gap expected to widen further.
"Our government subsidises the fossil fuel industry and charges kids a fortune for further education," Goldman states. "How is that fair?"
A Growing Youth Movement
What makes this protest movement particularly striking is the youth of its participants. Goldman notes she was one of the oldest strikers, with primary school children taking key organizing roles in the climate movement.
This reflects a broader trend of young Australians becoming politically engaged on climate issues, despite many being too young to vote. "None of us can vote yet," Goldman explains, "but every decision our government makes affects us the most."
The students are demanding concrete action, including a 78% tax on fossil fuel export profits to fund community and industrial transition, and pay for climate loss and damage.
As Australia remains one of the world's largest exporters of coal and gas, with export emissions dwarfing domestic pollution, these students argue their government is "cheaply selling our futures."
The Newcastle protest is part of a growing wave of youth climate activism, with students planning to raise their voices again at the upcoming People's Blockade. Their message to politicians is clear: they want leaders who prioritize Australian interests and truly have their backs.
