Beazley addresses 100,000

250,000 take part in workplace rights protests

Up to 120,000 workers and union supporters took to the streets of Melbourne today to protest the Howard Government’s workplace laws agenda.

Media reports are saying that across Australia more than 250,000 Australians and their families have taken part in rallies today.

And more Australian working families will be in the streets tomorrow as NSW holds what is billed as Australia's biggest ever workers' meeting.

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Petty cartoon: "back to basics"

Andrews claims protests are "illegal"

Federal Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews said the action taken by workers - including the estimated 100,000 who amassed in the centre of Melbourne - was in breach of the Workplace Relations Act.

"Today is a political action rather than industrial action ... most of today's action would be unprotected in relation to the Workplace Relations Act."

Mr Andrews' department is reportedly threatening fines of up to $6,600 against workers of packaging giant Visy who marched in a rally last year for asbestos victims in breach of an order from the Industrial Relations Commission.

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More than 100,000 protest against IR changes

An estimated 100,000 workers filled the streets of Melbourne. Tens of thousands of people have also rallied in Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin and across Queensland against the Federal Government's proposed industrial relations changes.

The Government wants to enforce the use of individual contracts, abolish the state-based industrial relations systems, and remove unfair dismissal protection for workers sacked from businesses with less than 100 workers.

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