Australian students shun calls to stay in school as anti-Hanson protests gather across country

High schoolers join university walkouts in major cities and several smaller locations amid urge to ‘stand up against the far right’

• Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

Calls for striking students to stay in school are unlikely to deter thousands across the country preparing to take part in a major walkout in protest against Pauline Hanson.

High schoolers have begun joining the coordinated university union protests taking place in every major city and several smaller locations across the country on Thursday afternoon.