Protest At Tony Abbott's Government Sees Thousands March In Australian Cities
Posted:
Updated:
Thousands have taken part in demonstrations across Australia
against Tony Abbott's policies, including on education, welfare, asylum
seekers and the rights of indigenous Australians.
People marched
in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and other cities in the country against
the government and communicated on social media under the hashtag
#MarchinAugust.
Around 40,000 people are believed to have march in 31 locations, it was reported reported.
The
proest featured many signs, one read: “For stronger public health and
education, for addressing climate change, for asylum seeker rights, for
real reconciliation, for equitable access to university, for protecting
the environment, for international aid based on need not trade, for
greater equality of wealth, for cultural diversity, for these reasons
and more we march and shout, ‘Boot the Liberals Out!’”
Maurie Mulheron, president of a teaching union, told the crowd the government “simply doesn’t believe” in supporting education, The Guardian reported.
“It is obvious that the Abbott government has declared war on children and young people,” he said.
“It
is determined by way of policy to limit opportunity. In short it simply
does not believe the government should provide education."
As
well as budget cuts, Abbott has landed in hot water for his unguarded
remarks about Australian history - including that the country was
"unsettled" before British colonisation - that downplay the significance
of indigenous Australians.
Ken Canning, a Murri writer and poet, said they were "an afterthought" in Australian politics.
“It’s like politically we are an afterthought in our own country. This is not good enough,” he said.
“The only way to get rid of this government is to do what you’re doing now. Get out there and protest.”
The government's policies on refugee asylum seekers was also attacked.
Human
rights lawyer Julian Burnside told the crowd outside the Victoria
Parliament: "The way they are treating refugees in Australia is a crime,
and there has already been a reference put into the international
criminal court complaining of that very treatment.”
against Tony Abbott's policies, including on education, welfare, asylum
seekers and the rights of indigenous Australians.
People marched
in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and other cities in the country against
the government and communicated on social media under the hashtag
#MarchinAugust.
Around 40,000 people are believed to have march in 31 locations, it was reported reported.
The
proest featured many signs, one read: “For stronger public health and
education, for addressing climate change, for asylum seeker rights, for
real reconciliation, for equitable access to university, for protecting
the environment, for international aid based on need not trade, for
greater equality of wealth, for cultural diversity, for these reasons
and more we march and shout, ‘Boot the Liberals Out!’”
Maurie Mulheron, president of a teaching union, told the crowd the government “simply doesn’t believe” in supporting education, The Guardian reported.
“It is obvious that the Abbott government has declared war on children and young people,” he said.
“It
is determined by way of policy to limit opportunity. In short it simply
does not believe the government should provide education."
As
well as budget cuts, Abbott has landed in hot water for his unguarded
remarks about Australian history - including that the country was
"unsettled" before British colonisation - that downplay the significance
of indigenous Australians.
Ken Canning, a Murri writer and poet, said they were "an afterthought" in Australian politics.
“It’s like politically we are an afterthought in our own country. This is not good enough,” he said.
“The only way to get rid of this government is to do what you’re doing now. Get out there and protest.”
The government's policies on refugee asylum seekers was also attacked.
Human
rights lawyer Julian Burnside told the crowd outside the Victoria
Parliament: "The way they are treating refugees in Australia is a crime,
and there has already been a reference put into the international
criminal court complaining of that very treatment.”
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