Thousands of school children have skipped class to demand the federal government act on climate change in coordinated rallies in almost 30 cities and towns across Australia.
But the federal resources minister says the students should be in school learning about science and mining rather than learning about "how to join the dole queue".
The 'Strike 4 Climate Action' - inspired by a 15-year-old Swedish school girl's activism - involved children in all capital cities and 20 regional centres.
In Sydney, more than 1000 children - most in school uniform - chanted "climate action now" and "ScoMo sucks" while similar numbers blocked streets outside the Victorian parliament in Melbourne.
A further 1000 students from 100 Queensland schools surrounded the state's parliament in Brisbane, while 20 regional rallies, including at Newcastle, Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay in NSW, saw thousands more take to the streets in protest.
Resources Minister Matt Canavan, who says he's on the side of science and wants Australia to develop all energy sources, including solar and coal, said he'd rather the students learn about mining and science
