Resources Minister Matt Canavan says students “don’t learn anything” by walking out of school and protesting, as a major climate change march occurs.

Children as young as five have rallied in cities across the country today, calling on the federal government to take more action on global warming.

Thousands of school students have taken part.

Federal Resources Minister Matt Canavan tells Alan Jones he’s all for students learning about science and energy sources, but they shouldn’t be marching out of their classrooms.

Hundreds, if not thousands of school students have gathered in Martin Place, calling for the government to act on climate change. @2GB873 @ScottMorrisonMP pic.twitter.com/jQNGE1ruW0

— Matthew Bridges (@matthewabridges) November 30, 2018

“I want kids to be at school to learn about how you build a mine, how you do geology, how you drill for oil and gas,” he says.

“Walking off school and protesting, you don’t learn anything from that.

“The best thing you learn about going to a protest is how to join the dole queue because that’s what your future life will look like.

“Up in a line asking for a handout, not actually taking charge of your life and getting a real job.”

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See photos from the protest below 

Hundreds of students gathered at Sydney’s Martin Place around lunchtime.

New South Wales Education Minister Rob Stokes tells Ben Fordham students shouldn’t be skipping class to protest.

“They can protest tomorrow, they can protest after school.

“There are all sorts of appropriate times.

“The one thing you don’t do is skip school on a school day.”

Click PLAY below for the full interview