Thousands rally over compensation cuts in Sydney

SYDNEY - Thousands of New South Wales workers are marching on parliament in Sydney to protest against expected cuts to workers compensation by the state government, local media reported on Wednesday.

Firefighters, nurses, laborers and other workers braved the rain to rally outside Parliament House in Sydney on Wednesday, ahead of the release of a parliamentary the committee report recommending changes to the WorkCover Scheme.

Protesters flooded the Macquarie Street, chanting "The workers united will never be defeated" and "Barry O'Farrell you have no shame", the Australian Associated Press reported.

Earlier on Wednesday, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell said the costs of the scheme had to be contained, and that unions needed to realize that they no longer ran the state.

Meanwhile, members of the Fire Brigade Workers Union voted to strike if the government cut their workers compensation provisions and death and disability awards.