Marches across country against Abbott govt

Crowds across the country have rallied against budget cuts and Prime Minister Tony Abbott's government.

Protesters with banners took to the streets in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra to voice their concerns on a range of issues including indigenous rights, coal seam gas mining, homelessness, live animal exports and metadata.

More than 5000 people gathered in Sydney's CBD to hear Greens Senator Christine Milne, who was introduced as the "leader of the opposition".

Ms Milne told the crowd it was time for Mr Abbott to stop pressing the "fear button" and forget about data retention.

In Perth about 500 people, flanked by crowd marshals wearing Guy Fawkes masks, marched through the city's shopping malls.

Federal Labor MP Melissa Parke told the crowd she thought Mr Abbott was a cross between Russia's Vladimir Putin and former US President George W Bush and that he was leading "the worst government ever".

The annual March in March event attracted colourful parodies of politicians, mostly targeting the Liberal Party with some expletive-laden messages directed at Mr Abbott.

"Is being an incompetent buffoon also a lifestyle choice?" read one banner at the Sydney rally.

"Terrorists are threatening our way of life," said another, alongside a picture of the Prime Minister.

Others carried signs supporting refugees, women and gay rights.