Statement begins

I wanted to once again speak to the youth of this nation, who are out there fighting for their future in the face of a government that is absolutely determined not to listen.

Right now, the government is going around lobbying every politician in the country and trying to get them to speak out against your protest, to tell you to abandon your ambition of a protest that hits the government where it hurts -- in the economic bottom line.

Meanwhile, as the Prime Minister speaks about tensions, she sends the AFP to meet your protests. An army of AFP officers, descending on a group of kids fighting for a future that includes them -- a future in which they are finally respected.

This is absurd. If the Prime Minister were serious about avoiding tensions, she would order the police to stand down and allow the protest to go ahead. But no, she's more interested in looking good in the papers. She wants a nice shot of her sitting nicely on the government benches as the President opens parliament.

It is shocking, and you shouldn't stand for it.

This brings me to the subject of the planned protest to disrupt the President's Speech. The organisers of this protest have pointed out that a protest at the High Court would spread numbers thin and allow the AFP, sent by Prime Minister Youmaton, to remove you.

To this I say: you're right. Focus on disrupting the Speech. That is the more important protest, and it's what most people will pay attention to.

But that pales in comparison to your plans to blockade the Port of Melbourne, and the new plan to blockade the Port of Newcastle.

The Port of Newcastle is one of the largest coal ports in the world, and it is your future more than any other that is threatened by climate change -- which we know is driven by fossil fuel use.

And so that is why I announce my full support for this protest. But I will go beyond words. I plan to attend the protest and take part in the blockade. If Youmaton's thugs come to arrest us, then I will be the first one arrested. And I will use my considerable private fortune -- which I amassed after inheriting a portion of the Drunk_King_Robert estate -- to personally pay the legal fees of anyone who is arrested as part of this blockade.

It is these planned blockades that the PM -- and her puppets -- have begged you to cancel. And the reason they have done that is because they know it will be an embarrassment for them. If this blockade goes through, you will have sent a message that cannot be ignored. You know that's true, because already the SDP are offering token gestures to try and convince you to abandon these plans. Stay the course. Blockade the ports, and you will get a hell of a lot more than you are currently being offered. You might be a bit too young to remember Deal or No Deal, but this is like when the banker gives the first, lowball offer -- it's always worth holding out.

On the subject of actions and not words, I am pleased that my party leader has put together a bill that would give the Youth Advisory Group a real, honest say over policies. That is a huge step forward, and is far bigger than anything the government has yet done. No doubt if the AfD were in government, there would be no need for the blockades -- because we would've sat down with you days ago and sorted this out.

Keep fighting. Your future is on the line.

Quotes attributable to TheSensibleCentre

"The Prime Minister is sending the police to meet these protests because she is scared. She cares more about preserving her own image than she does fighting for the youth of our nation."

"Expect to see me there, standing arm in arm with you when you blockade the Port of Newcastle. Together, we can make a real difference."

"I once again reiterate that my office is open 24/7 to the protest leaders, and my resources are available to them."