Simultaneous mass protests have taken place across Australia to protest against Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s austerity budget, with the largest protest seeing an estimated 20,000 people marching.
Up to 15,000 people, organizers say, turned up for a rally at Sydney’s central business district. Police put the figure at 6,000.
The streets of #Sydney are absolutely flooded with peaceful, vocal #bustthebudget protestors. Wow, what a turn out! pic.twitter.com/1X47rP9PqU
— Clare Costigan (@ClareCLegit) 6 июля 2014
The march started at Town Hall and continued along George Street
and up Market Street.
#bustthebudget#Sydney@CliveFPalmer Uni cuts = dumb cuts pic.twitter.com/0T1ogzUSko
— Ms Gonzo (@nobodysmuppet) July 6, 2014
Christine Milne, leader of the Greens, told journalists that the protest was borne out of frustration against planned federal cuts to health and welfare spending.
“[Abbott] is making life harder for people. He's making life a misery for people who are unemployed and searching for work,” she said.
#bustthebudget#sydneypic.twitter.com/hKVA4g9ooo
— Dame Kate o'Moonabah (@TheToasterBoy) July 6, 2014
Local residents, when asked why they came to the rally, listed among the reasons of discontent the treatment of asylum seekers, changes to disability care, cuts to education, and a higher pension age.
Mark Lennon, from Unions New South Wales, said the latest federal budget was unfair, adding that there hadn't been such outcry over a budget in 30 years
"Not only is it unfair, it is deliberately unfair, because this is not just about the budget, this is about a change of the agenda for this nation. This is about a change in the philosophical direction of the country," he told WAToday.
A view of the #bustthebudget rally in #Melbourne. Just started raining here too. pic.twitter.com/hU65CNjp3e
— Ben Duggan (@Ben_Duggan) July 6, 2014
The protest was peaceful, and security forces said there had been no incidents during the event.
The largest protest in the country was held in Melbourne, with Trades Hall claiming that 20,000 people gathered for the rally: representatives of various unions, as well as teachers, firefighters and nurses.
Thousands rallying in the rain to #bustthebudget#auspol#melbournepic.twitter.com/8jPWTAP5Ba
— Evan McHugh (@LoserMcHugh) July 6, 2014
Moderate-sized protests also took place in the South Australian capital, Adelaide, and Perth, the capital of Western Australia.
#bustthebudget#melbourne marching up Swanston St. For the many, not the few. pic.twitter.com/aT6urI9TP6
— Matthew Hall (@aDB) July 6, 2014
In Brisbane, Queensland, about 800 people took to the streets to march, while police said about 1,000 people marched, AAP reported.
RT @marchozcanberra#bustthebudget#canberra#auspol@MarchAustraliapic.twitter.com/SHRYGvsz7B
— CFMEU National (@CFMEU_National) July 6, 2014
In Canberra, the protest featured a three-meter-high Tony Abbott puppet with smoke coming out of his trousers.
Hundreds converged on the lawns in front of Parliament House and chanted, “One-term Tony” and “Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire” at the puppet.
No one was arrested in any of the cities, Queensland, NSW, Victorian and SA police told AAP.