School students across the state were protesting on Friday against publicly funded gas projects.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In Armidale students socially distanced with placards while chanting their message, "fund our future not gas".
Organised by the School Strike 4 Climate network, the national protest was demanding that prime minister Scott Morrison rule out giving billions of dollars in COVID-19 recovery funds to gas.
Last week the Prime Minister launched the government's plans to boost Australia's gas sector, including a promise to build a gas power plant in the NSW Hunter Valley if the private sector does not step in.
Locally, the students' target was state MP Adam Marshall.
Thirteen-year-old student from The Waldorf School, Airlie Bragg, led a protest outside the MP's Armidale electorate office.
READ MORE:
"The government is trying to boost the economy because of COVID-19," Airlie said.
"For this they are doing a gas-led recovery, so they're putting $52.9 million into gas projects and we do not support the government doing that.
"We want them to invest in renewable projects for a renewable-led recovery plan, and we do not support the gas-led recovery plan."
Airlie said they acknowledged the local electorate had seen millions spent on renewable energy under Mr Marshall's watch, but she said much more needed to be done.
"We need the whole of Australia to commit to zero net emmissions by 2050. He is part of the state government, he can help, he can change people's minds in the state, and the federal (government). He can try.
"He needs to try more, the government needs to try more for this renewable target."
When the School Strike 4 Climate network held a protest in Armidale last year, students spoke with Mr Marshall who was nearby at the time.
Speaking to The Armidale Express on Friday he said he would continue to be a strong advocate for renewable energy.
"We don't have gas projects, we don't have coal projects," he said.
Mr Marshall said he was not familiar with what the federal government was planning with its gas-led recovery.
During Friday morning's protest the students delivered a letter to Mr Marshall's office to be passed on to the MP.
Mr Marshall was not in Armidale at the time of the protest.
