Student strike in Tamworth hears from four students

An estimated 200 to 250 people marched from the train station to Bicentennial Park - as one pointed out, it took three sets of traffic lights for them to all cross Marius Street.

The marchers picked up numbers as they marched the main street; one observer yelled: "Stop Adani! Stop, stop Adani!"

At the park rally, students Annabelle Sadleir, Lucy Lyden, Chiara Leabon and Mickennah Byrne spoke of their concerns and demands of politicians.

These were: no new coal, oil or gas projects; a transition and jobs for fossil fuel workers and communities; and 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030.

Strike co-organiser Lucy, 12, addressed her speech to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, saying they were "deadly serious" about the issue and criticising him for inaction.

"When a child from Sweden [climate activist Greta Thunberg] is more inspiring than our own Prime Minister, this country is leaderless and in deep trouble," she said.

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Chiara said: "Weather events are becoming more extreme: heatwaves, droughts, cyclones ... the weather we now call 'normal' is not. I'm striking today because I want a future."

Lucy told the crowd she wished she was in school instead of striking.

"I truly love learning," she said.

"But if I have learnt anything by listening to scientists, it is that our climate is in crisis and we have to take extreme action.

"It is time, Mr Morrison, for you to learn the same lesson, as we only have five years to drastically reduce our carbon emissions. Hope you're a quick learner."