Protesters shut down Sydney CBD

Up to 10,000 protesters have brought Sydney's CBD to a halt as they marched to protest a range of federal government policies.

Campaigners rallied in Hyde Park demanding changes to the government's policies on climate change, education, environmental, health, indigenous rights and immigration.

One of the six speakers, NSW Nurses and Midwives Association president Coral Levett told rallygoers it was up to them to fight changes to the proposed Medicare levy along with other budget cuts.

"We have to keep fighting to stop these unjust, regressive budget measures," Ms Levett said.

"We must call on our MPs, particularly those in the senate to reject these abhorrent attacks on Medicare in the form of co-payments."

The protest shut down the CBD for around 30 minutes as protesters peacefully marched to Sydney Town Hall before returning to Hyde Park for a free concert by popular indie band The Jezabels.

There were no arrests.

It was one of around 30 protests staged across the country over the weekend, with an organisers estimating the overall number of marchers to be around 40,000.