ABOUT 200 people rallied against the Abbott government’s budget cuts at QEII square on Saturday, voicing their objections to policies on topics ranging from education to refugees.
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The crowd’s colourful assorted T-shirts, flags, signs and banners gave voice to their dissatisfaction with the federal leadership and its hardline policies.
Rally administrator Chip Eling said about 50 more people had attended Saturday’s rally than the one at Wodonga’s Woodland Grove in July.
Regular rally goer Michael Webster said the movement was growing.
“There are twice as many people here than when we first met in March,” she said.
“It is an indication that more and more people are being affected by the budget and are prepared to speak out against the Abbott government.”
A common theme for protesters was that Australia was becoming more divided between rich and poor.
Even some little affected by proposed cuts, like Jaime and Jan Schmidt, rallied.
“We don’t agree with many of the budget changes,” Jamie said.
“The cuts could come from many other areas.”
Albury’s Janet Butt said she feared the impact the changes could have on her family.
“My son is looking for work and if he has no income for six months, I will have to support him,” she said.
“My sister had a liver transplant and is on the disability pension — what job would she get without the pension?”
A petition calling for Parliament to cast a vote of no-confidence in the government was signed by 180 people.
Albury Council’s Darren Cameron described the budget as “reverse Robin Hood”.
“It takes from the poor and gives to the rich,” he said.
“It is the worst budget in the country’s history.
“They are saying poor people and the young and unemployed have got to carry their weight but, at the same time, they are giving millions of taxpayer dollars to rich people like Gina Rinehart in the form of diesel subsidies in mining.”
Speakers included regional political activists Alan Lappin, Department of Environment and Management of Ecology at La Trobe University Dr Susan Lawler and rector at St Matthews Father Peter MacLeod-Miller, Albury Council’s Cr David Thurley, National Tertiary Education Union’s Victorian president Virginia Mansel Lees and Australian Manufacturing Workers Union organiser Wodonga Dave Corban.