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| March in May: Tens of thousands across Australia march in budget protest | March in May: Tens of thousands across Australia march in budget protest |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Tens of thousands of Australians took to the streets of Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth on Sunday to protest against the policies of the Abbott government. | Tens of thousands of Australians took to the streets of Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth on Sunday to protest against the policies of the Abbott government. |
| “This is not just a march about the budget,” said Kimberly, a Sydney organiser. “These marches signify major concern with current government policies, dissatisfaction with a stagnant two-party political system, and the disturbing motivations and influence of those with money and power.” | “This is not just a march about the budget,” said Kimberly, a Sydney organiser. “These marches signify major concern with current government policies, dissatisfaction with a stagnant two-party political system, and the disturbing motivations and influence of those with money and power.” |
| March in May organisers in Adelaide said there were 15,000 people, but police put the figure closer to 8,000. There was a similar disparity in Sydney; conservative estimates by police were about 7,000 by 2.30pm, well short of the 20,000 that an organiser, Hannah Farrugia, suggested. Federation Square in Melbourne was reportedly full. | March in May organisers in Adelaide said there were 15,000 people, but police put the figure closer to 8,000. There was a similar disparity in Sydney; conservative estimates by police were about 7,000 by 2.30pm, well short of the 20,000 that an organiser, Hannah Farrugia, suggested. Federation Square in Melbourne was reportedly full. |
| Sydney city duty officer, inspector Anthony Bell, told Guardian Australia the rally’s site, Belmore Park, could not hold that many and had not reached the capacity seen at the March in March event. | Sydney city duty officer, inspector Anthony Bell, told Guardian Australia the rally’s site, Belmore Park, could not hold that many and had not reached the capacity seen at the March in March event. |
| “March in March had about 12,000 – took everyone by surprise,” Bell said, but he added that although Sunday’s turnout looked smaller the police could not be certain of numbers because people continued to stream in. | “March in March had about 12,000 – took everyone by surprise,” Bell said, but he added that although Sunday’s turnout looked smaller the police could not be certain of numbers because people continued to stream in. |
| Organisers of the Sydney event were buoyed by the turnout and behaviour at the rally. Speakers emphasised the “peaceful” aspect of the protest and urged crowds to ignore or report to police any dangerous or violent behaviour. | Organisers of the Sydney event were buoyed by the turnout and behaviour at the rally. Speakers emphasised the “peaceful” aspect of the protest and urged crowds to ignore or report to police any dangerous or violent behaviour. |
| The crowd was mixed, with hundreds of children accompanying parents and friends. Older people told Guardian Australia they were concerned how they could help their children after the budget revelations that particularly affected young people. | The crowd was mixed, with hundreds of children accompanying parents and friends. Older people told Guardian Australia they were concerned how they could help their children after the budget revelations that particularly affected young people. |
| Placards covered a multitude of topics, including offshore processing and asylum seeker policies, Indigenous inequality, the Trans Pacific partnership, climate change, and – thanks to the timely nature of the protest so soon after the federal budget – funding cuts and broken promises. | Placards covered a multitude of topics, including offshore processing and asylum seeker policies, Indigenous inequality, the Trans Pacific partnership, climate change, and – thanks to the timely nature of the protest so soon after the federal budget – funding cuts and broken promises. |
| Numerous “Fuck Tony Abbott” T-shirts were seen, as were references to Christopher Pyne’s “grub” insult. Other placards read “Close the death camps”; “I’m here, I’m queer, Tony Abbott get out of here”; and “Lord Tone does not need science”. Several pleas to “Give our country back” were seen amid the crowd, which included a troupe of Star Wars-themed protesters. | Numerous “Fuck Tony Abbott” T-shirts were seen, as were references to Christopher Pyne’s “grub” insult. Other placards read “Close the death camps”; “I’m here, I’m queer, Tony Abbott get out of here”; and “Lord Tone does not need science”. Several pleas to “Give our country back” were seen amid the crowd, which included a troupe of Star Wars-themed protesters. |
| I love a good Simpsons reference. #marchinmay pic.twitter.com/LJ6X9PkEUW | I love a good Simpsons reference. #marchinmay pic.twitter.com/LJ6X9PkEUW |
| Irena Birch and her son Matthew, 11, were there to protest against the school chaplaincy program, which had been trialled at Matthew’s school and given extended funding in Tuesday’s budget. | Irena Birch and her son Matthew, 11, were there to protest against the school chaplaincy program, which had been trialled at Matthew’s school and given extended funding in Tuesday’s budget. |
| “They call [the school chaplain] a youth worker, but he’s actually from a religious evangelical group,” Birch said. | “They call [the school chaplain] a youth worker, but he’s actually from a religious evangelical group,” Birch said. |
| “We’ve sort of given up fighting them now, but we’re really angry now that they’ve gotten rid of the secular.” | “We’ve sort of given up fighting them now, but we’re really angry now that they’ve gotten rid of the secular.” |
| Birch said she didn’t know about the march until this week, but Tuesday’s budget convinced her to come along. Matthew was also protesting against Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers. | Birch said she didn’t know about the march until this week, but Tuesday’s budget convinced her to come along. Matthew was also protesting against Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers. |
| “I don’t think when they say they’re all criminals … What if they’re genuine?” the year 6 student said. | “I don’t think when they say they’re all criminals … What if they’re genuine?” the year 6 student said. |
| “It’s not fair to them because we’re all human beings. It doesn’t help to send them away because then they’ll just get angry at us … I think they’re allowed to come to Australia.” | “It’s not fair to them because we’re all human beings. It doesn’t help to send them away because then they’ll just get angry at us … I think they’re allowed to come to Australia.” |
| "I've got 99 problems and this budget is all of them" #marchinmay #adelaide #bustthebudget pic.twitter.com/5Uh0fBTeHV | "I've got 99 problems and this budget is all of them" #marchinmay #adelaide #bustthebudget pic.twitter.com/5Uh0fBTeHV |
| Political groups were deliberately denied any official capacity in Sydney, but there were groups in the crowd representing the Greens, unions and the Socialist Alternative who hung back away from the main throng. | Political groups were deliberately denied any official capacity in Sydney, but there were groups in the crowd representing the Greens, unions and the Socialist Alternative who hung back away from the main throng. |
| In Melbourne, Greens MP Adam Bandt told the crowd no one voted for the budget. | |
| “It takes guts and courage to stand up to the powerful and wealthy but a coward to take an axe to the young, the sick and the poor,” he said. | “It takes guts and courage to stand up to the powerful and wealthy but a coward to take an axe to the young, the sick and the poor,” he said. |
| Union and political party representatives also spoke in Brisbane where about 600 gathered. | Union and political party representatives also spoke in Brisbane where about 600 gathered. |
| “I thought it was going to be tough, but not what he’s done,” Michelle Konnecke said of the budget. | “I thought it was going to be tough, but not what he’s done,” Michelle Konnecke said of the budget. |
| “We need to make our voices heard. At the end of the day if we sit back and do nothing he can get away with other things as well. He needs to be honest like he said he would be.” | “We need to make our voices heard. At the end of the day if we sit back and do nothing he can get away with other things as well. He needs to be honest like he said he would be.” |
| Speakers in Sydney included the chief executive of Greenpeace Australia Pacific, David Ritter, Ian Rintoul of the Refugee Action Coalition, journalist Antony Lowenstein and Sally Mcmanus, secretary of the Australian Services Union in NSW and the ACT. | |
| Mcmanus said the crowd appeared angry and united. “We have to have strength amongst ourselves before we can convince others,” she told Guardian Australia after her speech. | Mcmanus said the crowd appeared angry and united. “We have to have strength amongst ourselves before we can convince others,” she told Guardian Australia after her speech. |
| Ritter drew applause as he spoke of past action against threats to Great Barrier Reef, Tasmanian forests and most recently activism against coal seam gas exploration in the northern NSW community of Bentley. | Ritter drew applause as he spoke of past action against threats to Great Barrier Reef, Tasmanian forests and most recently activism against coal seam gas exploration in the northern NSW community of Bentley. |
| “Think about what people power has accomplished in Australia’s long history,” he said. | “Think about what people power has accomplished in Australia’s long history,” he said. |
| “It was because of the power and determination of the Australian people that the Great Barrier Reef was not drilled for oil in the 1970s … that the Franklin was not dammed.” | “It was because of the power and determination of the Australian people that the Great Barrier Reef was not drilled for oil in the 1970s … that the Franklin was not dammed.” |
| Rintoul addressed the crowd on asylum seekers and offshore processing. | Rintoul addressed the crowd on asylum seekers and offshore processing. |
| “[The government] committed $7.2bn to offshore processing. If they wanted to solve the bottom line they could solve Manus Island and close Nauru,” he told Guardian Australia. | “[The government] committed $7.2bn to offshore processing. If they wanted to solve the bottom line they could solve Manus Island and close Nauru,” he told Guardian Australia. |
| “I think it’s undoubtedly the case that the budget has had an impact – or at least confirmed in people’s mind – to put aside this day to be here ... | “I think it’s undoubtedly the case that the budget has had an impact – or at least confirmed in people’s mind – to put aside this day to be here ... |
| “We’ve got to send them a message. We march today … for justice for Reza Barati. We march to bring down the Abbott government and to bring down the fences on Manus Island and Nauru.” | “We’ve got to send them a message. We march today … for justice for Reza Barati. We march to bring down the Abbott government and to bring down the fences on Manus Island and Nauru.” |
| There were some arrests once the march moved through Sydney streets and a group staged a sit-in on a busy intersection. Pictures showed protesters being led away and put in paddy wagons. Early estimates said about 10 people were arrested and taken to various stations. NSW police confirmed the arrests to Guardian Australia. | There were some arrests once the march moved through Sydney streets and a group staged a sit-in on a busy intersection. Pictures showed protesters being led away and put in paddy wagons. Early estimates said about 10 people were arrested and taken to various stations. NSW police confirmed the arrests to Guardian Australia. |
| “A number of people broke away from the protest and have been arrested for disobeying a police direction to move off a temporarily closed road,” a spokeswoman said. | “A number of people broke away from the protest and have been arrested for disobeying a police direction to move off a temporarily closed road,” a spokeswoman said. |
| Road pretty much clear, police still making arrests. #MarchInMay #BustTheBudget pic.twitter.com/RRAwECLg0X | Road pretty much clear, police still making arrests. #MarchInMay #BustTheBudget pic.twitter.com/RRAwECLg0X |
| TAFE student Ben Hammond was the first to be arrested by police breaking up the sit-in. | TAFE student Ben Hammond was the first to be arrested by police breaking up the sit-in. |
| He said: "We were tired of protesting on the government's terms. If we really wanted to shock them we have to challenge the things they want us to do. | He said: "We were tired of protesting on the government's terms. If we really wanted to shock them we have to challenge the things they want us to do. |
| "I'm not the type of person who would normally do things like this, but there are so many issues and reasons to be angry that I was willing to go to jail to speak out." | "I'm not the type of person who would normally do things like this, but there are so many issues and reasons to be angry that I was willing to go to jail to speak out." |
| Police have split sit-in. Activists say they aren't being told where arrestees are being taken. #marchinmarch pic.twitter.com/hsXXaEcw7t | Police have split sit-in. Activists say they aren't being told where arrestees are being taken. #marchinmarch pic.twitter.com/hsXXaEcw7t |