http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/thousands-march-across-australia-for-science-and-reason-in-public-policy-20170422-gvqbbo.html
Thousands of Australians have marched in support of science and evidence-based policy as demonstrations kick off around the world on Earth Day.
People of all ages carried homemade banners, including "we need thinkers, not deniers" and "science, not silence".
Hundreds of thousands are expected to demonstrate in the global March for Science, which will be centred on Washington DC in response to US President Donald Trump's proposed budget cuts to science.
In Sydney, former Liberal leader John Hewson told a crowd of about 3000 people that it should be a global embarrassment that Australian politics had become so opportunistic that politicians seemed no longer interested in the substance of the issues.
Dr Hewson said: "Short-term politics is the main impediment to scientific and policy debates we should be having in this country."
In Melbourne organisers said 4000 people marched to state parliament. Speakers included former Labor science minister Barry Jones, who said that science advocacy was not a one-shot vaccination, people needed to keep up the pressure.
Organisers of the March for Science Australia told Fairfax Media that 10,000 had demonstrated nationally, including in Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
more at
http://www.smh.com.au/world/nerds-take-to-the-streets-across-us-with-a-science-lesson-for-donald-trump-20170423-gvqj8z.html 
