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Newcastle joined the rest of the country on Sunday morning with nearly a thousand people showing up for another anti-budget rally as part of the March Australia movement.
Stepping off in Pacific Park, Newcastle East on Sunday morning protesters marched through the Hunter Street Mall and along the left lane of Hunter Street towards Civic Park, Newcastle.
Chanting ‘‘hey hey, ho ho, Tony Abbott’s got to go,’’ and ‘‘we’re here, we’re loud, we’re union and we’re proud,’’ the marchers were treated to a musical welcome from political hip hop group, Flaming Edgar.
The assembly of protesters was followed by a round of speeches by various union officials and concerned humanitarians including Save Our Stockton’s Wendy Cuneo, Penola House’s Sister Di Santleben and Maritime Union of Australia’s Fred Krausert.
The action was held in protest against the federal government’s unpopular budget measures which are currently being debated in the senate. Laura Ticehurst of Caves Beach said she was angry about lots of things, but that it was important to note that it wasn’t just the current government that was the problem.
‘‘One of the issues I’m most concerned about is the way asylum seekers are being treated. Labor won’t fix that if they’re voted back in,’’ she said.
But she said she remained optimistic.
‘‘I’m happy to see such a sustained level of anger at this attack on the country’s most vulnerable,’’ she said. Bill and Karen Burgess from Newcastle dropped into the rally after a morning church service.
‘‘We don’t like Tony Abbott,’’ Mrs Burgess said.
‘‘We believe in equality for everyone and we’re not getting it under this government.’’
Mary Akol, a final year student from Jesmond at the University of Newcastle said she was not happy with plans to uncap university fees.
‘‘It shouldn’t be allowed,’’ she said.
She said she was worried that many students wanting to study medicine would choose not to if debts were too high.