And in Melbourne ...
Thousands of people have marched through central Melbourne as part of nationwide protests against attacks on workers' rights by the Abbott Government.
Thousands of people have marched through central Melbourne as part of nationwide protests against attacks on workers' rights by the Abbott Government.
The Productivity Commission is conducting a review into workplace relations, which unions fear is an attempt to cut penalty rates and bring back unfair conditions.
Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) secretary David Oliver said the protests in capital cities across Australia were designed to send a clear message to the Federal Government.
"Today the union movement teamed up with the community to get a very loud and clear message to this Government that we will not stand by and let Tony Abbott take our country in the wrong direction," he said.
"We will not stand by and once again see workers' rights at work being attacked. We will not stand by and see the living standards being eroded in this country."
Union members 'fed up' with attacks
Michael Pace, a teacher at a disadvantaged school, attended the rally to fight for more education funding. He teaches children who have English as a second language or suffer from learning problems.
"We desperately need the Gonski funding to adequately support their learning," he said.
"The funding would give our school an extra 17 teachers and would mean so much for kids who don't speak English.
"Public education is our future and my colleagues and I make a difference every day."
Union shop steward Steve Ellis said construction workers were fed up with getting a hard time.
"We've had enough," he said.
"This rally is to stand up and say we're not going to tolerate it any more.
"I would say this will probably be the first of many because Tony Abbott's tax on penalty rates, his Productivity Commission – we're not going to stand for it."
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