London: Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard said she "raised an eyebrow" at the tactics used by Extinction Rebellion climate activists and questioned whether they would win over the hearts and minds of the public.
Speaking to the foreign policy think tank Chatham House in London, where recent protests resulted in the closure of streets and caused havoc at City Airport, Ms Gillard also praised the group for its energy and ability to mobilise the youth.
Extinction Rebellion protests also caused major disruptions in Australian cities this month, with dozens, including former Greens Senator Scott Ludlam, arrested for minor offences like failing to obey police.
When asked for her views on the protests by a member of the audience, Ms Gillard both praised and mildly rebuked the demonstrators' methods.
Julia Gillard is pleased to see young people being politically active.Credit:AAP
"I think it is always difficult for politicians to respond to disruptive street protests but human history also tells us that there are many times when street protesters were right and the decisions of politicians were wrong," Ms Gillard said, referring to opposition to conscription during the Vietnam War.
"Having said that, we can't forget that ultimately nation-state democratic politics gets changed by winning hearts and minds and tactics that prejudice that ability to win hearts and minds ultimately don't get you where you want to go," she said.
She said there was a silver lining to the protests.
Spring rebellion: Activists stripped to their underwear and marched through the streets of Melboune last weekend.Credit:Paul Jeffers
"But one thing that gives me a lot of hope for the future is the mobilised nature of the current youth generation, I think that is different to youth generations going back for some time now," she said.
"Whilst I think a woman who turned 58 a few weeks ago might occasionally raise one sceptical eyebrow at some of the tactics and campaigning ultimately it's all for the good that a more mobilised generation of political activists is going to come onto the scene and bring with them a new energy for change," she said.
In London, Extinction Rebellion protestors have glued themselves to the ground as part of their civil disobedience campaign aimed at raising awareness and demanding steeper cuts in carbon emission output to halt the effects of climate change.
Protestors want governments to commit to being carbon neutral by 2025. They also want governments to declare a climate emergency.
This week, Labor's climate spokesman Mark Butler did so. Labor Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews has refused to use the same terminology and said Extinction Rebellion was not winning friends by shutting down the city of Melbourne.
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