My work at this newspaper means I am a regular fixture at our high schools to meet with students, while my casual work at a restaurant means I am on a team of mostly young staff, speaking with residents of all ages and backgrounds.

Almost universally, these under 30s tell me climate change rates as one of their most important political issues. So where do our candidates stand on the issue?

Part of my job is to know the answer to what will be done to combat the biggest threat facing our planet, but candidate discussion has been so limited that I too am in the dark.

Whoever we elect will decide whether or not to make climate action an important state and federal issue.

So it's embarrassing to admit I don't know whether Luke Sanger, Garry McMahon, Phil Donato or Kate Hazelton would be a better bet to contribute to the country's climate strategy.

Instead, I am about to help elect a new leader and I don't know what action they'll take. I suspect I am not alone.

Students from almost every Orange high school walked out of class last week to demonstrate how disappointed they were in the nation's political leadership.

"If you're not going to do something about climate change we will. Whether or not they want to hear our voices - we'll make them heard," Orange High's Milly Marton said at the Robertson Park protest.

But instead of being heard, young people brave enough to stand before the cameras in the School Strike 4 Climate campaign copped a tirade of abuse online.

Social media users blew up about parents "brainwashing" children and "indoctrinating" them to participate in "mob rule."

Trolls called out the "climate change scam" and called those fighting it "far left" and "exploitative".

These misinformed messages were disheartening, mean and unintelligent.

While many people rushed online to align themselves with the young protesters, what a shame that a few loud voices were shouted over the top of the ones we should've been hearing from, our candidates. 

No matter what the outcome this weekend, let's get the young voices heard. Let's make climate change policy important in Orange.