Mourners wearing black veils and pushing ‘ghost’ prams with no children, took to the streets of Lismore today in a symbolic protest to mourn the future.

When the protestors arrived at the office of MP Kevin Hogan and found his door locked, they chained themselves to their prams – unable to deliver their letters demanding government action on climate change. 

At the protest outside Mr Hogan’s office, the 'Red Rebels' gave a silent and emotional mourning for the future performance, until all were eventually asked to move on by the police.

Lismore local Miriam Torzillo was at the protest and said bringing the ghost prams to the streets was about acknowledging the duty of care the government in protecting the future for young people. 

It’s something Miriam said our leaders, including Federal representative Kevin Hogan, are not currently doing.

“Our mission is to get the government to change its policies on climate change and make sure we continue to have a livable climate,” Miriam said.

“Today is the day when ruling will be announced on Environment Minister Sussan Ley’s appeal against the Federal Court’s finding that she has a duty of care to protect young people from climate harm. 

“That’s why the prams with ‘Duty of Care’ messages today are so symbolic – they reflect that our leaders do have a duty of care for the future of our unborn children and grandchildren – and they need to take it seriously.

“It’s about time our government earned some respect by acting on climate change like the emergency it is. 

“We need massive subsidies to move out of fossil fuels and into renewables. We also need urgent protection of old-growth and State forests.” 

With the United Nations Climate Conference (COP26) about to get underway at the end of this month, Miriam said she hoped Australia’s COP26 delegation would take on more ambitious targets “to meet the challenge before us”.

“We need more immediate action on climate change to stem emissions and protect Australia’s biodiversity.”

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