Both groups agree that the gas-led recovery proposed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison last month is not the answer to Australia's COVID woes.

Knitting Nannas Hunter Loop spokesperson Julia Lee said the group is "a tad upset" with Mr Fitzgibbon for his support of the Morrison Government's gas-led recovery, which she deemed a "fairy tale".

"We need to be creating jobs in areas that solve the climate crisis, not make it worse," Ms Lee said.

"We like to show that it's not extreme radicals who are protesting against fossil fuels - it's Nannas who believe our children and the children of the future deserve a habitable planet, one with clean air and water.

"Care and conservation of our natural environment is integral to seeing our children enjoy the same privilege and lifestyle that we have.

"We need our politicians to embrace the future, not cling to the past."

Coalfields for Climate Action spokesperson Kaitlyn Williams said the group wants to see all levels of government take action on climate change.

Ms Williams said the call from Cessnock councillor Rod Doherty to support the Prime Minister's proposed gas-fired power plant for Kurri Kurri (which was endorsed by council at last Wednesday's meeting) was "simply out of touch and ignorant".

"Wednesday's Newcastle Herald reported 'Government bureaucrats have backed calculations by the Australian Energy Market Operator that show a new gas-fired power station would not be needed to compensate for the loss of Liddell power station'," Ms Williams said.

"We need council to be attracting 21st century manufacturing that will provide jobs well into the future."

Mr Fitzgibbon was in Canberra on Friday, but said he would have enjoyed a chat and the chance to listen to the protesters' views and to express his own.

"The group obviously well-intentioned but they need to better appreciate we can protect our environment without unnecessarily destroying local jobs," he said.