Protesters angered by the announced budget cuts to Government services - including health and education - gathered in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth today, as part of the nationwide March in May rallies.
In Sydney, the crowd was estimated at up to 10,000 people.
Protesters gathered in Sydney's CBD carrying placards with messages such as "hands off health, education and welfare".
Heather Williams, who works in education, said she was concerned about the Government's changes to unemployment benefits announced in the budget.
"I'm very concerned about the young, unemployed [people] under this budget," she said.
"It really worries me. I know a lot of people who tried very hard to get work."
For 15 Thousand in Melbourne, the proposed cuts to assistance for unemployed young people were also in focus, as was the lifting of the pension age to 70.
Deputy Greens leader Adam Bandt told the crowd the budget unfairly targets vulnerable people.
"If you say to the Australian people, 'What do you think is better – asking Gina Rinehart and the big banks and the big polluters to pay a bit more or taking the axe to the young and the sick and the poor?' I know which way this country will vote," he said.
"Why are 6,000 South Australians raising their voices in Adelaide today? They understand that this is about making sure when they are sick, there is a hospital bed for them," he said at a joint news conference with other state leaders in Sydney.
"When their children have a learning difficulty, there is the extra teaching support to allow their child to be a success – that's what's at stake, that's what's motivating them, and we are speaking for those Australians as we stand here today together.
"We have not seen rallies like this in SA since WorkChoices."
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