SYDNEY, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Brisbane on Thursday to protest the Australian government's changes to weekend penalty rates.
The weekend rates, extra money paid to those who work on Saturdays and Sundays, were lessened as part of a decision by the independent Fair Work Commission last month.
The crowd was filled with members of the trade union movement, who marched through the streets of the Brisbane CBD, before stopping at the Commonwealth government offices to hand in a petition.
The general secretary of the Queensland Council of Unions, Ros McLennan, claimed it was possible that 180,000 employees in Queensland alone would be worse off as a result of the changes that will come into effect in July this year.
"This is a loss of up to 6,000 dollars (4,510 U.S. dollars) per year for some Queensland workers," McLennan said.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull disputes the claims made by the union, and stresses that there is substantial evidence to suggest that the independent commission made the right call in their decision.
A poll conducted by Essential on Tuesday, found that 56 percent of voters are against the changes made to weekend penalty rates, while 32 percent of voters are for the changes.
