MARCH Australia’s inaugural rally and protest in Machattie Park yesterday attracted more than 500 people unhappy with the Abbott government.
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The protesters were young and old, some university educated, others tradespeople and musicians, but all had a common fear for the future following Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s first Federal Budget.
March Australia, a national group, has set up a Bathurst branch.
Rally organiser Melanie Hood declared the march a resounding success.
Marchers were protesting about a range of issues, calling for the proposed deregulation of universities to be axed, along with the proposed Medicare co-payment and fuel excise increase, while seeking more funding for services and renewable energy sources.
Ms Hood said people in regional areas would be greatly impacted by the Federal Budget should all of the proposed measures be implemented.
“CSU contributes about $1 billion to the [Bathurst] economy and employs about 5000 [nationally],” she said.
“It would just gut Bathurst if students couldn’t afford to go.”
While the HECS-HELP scheme will remain under the Federal Government’s plan, Ms Hood said higher fees would deter many prospective students.
Fuel excise increases were also on the protesters’ agenda.
“We need to use our cars a lot more, we’ve got to drive bigger distances so it’ll affect us more than those in the city,” Ms Hood said.
She said the aim of the protest was to create a new community and bring their concerns to local, state and federal members.
Despite the call for state and federal members to listen, neither State Member for Bathurst Paul Toole or Federal Member for Calare John Cobb was invited to attend the rally and march.
Mitch Hokin was among the protesters. He said his greatest concern was the renewable energy sector.
“A renewable energy target is needed for our country,” he said.
“Solar renewable energy provides more jobs than coal.”
Bill Tink brought his family to the protest and said he was unhappy with Prime Minister Abbott’s “lies” leading up to the last federal election.
“They lied before coming in to office ... it was politics of fear,” he said.
Ms Hood said treasurer Joe Hockey’s statement that Australia is a “nation of lifters, not leaners” in the Federal Budget speech only further targets those who can least afford extra costs.
“The poorer sections of the society are expected to prop up the supposed budget emergency.”