Standing on a tram barrier, high above the crowd, it was still impossible to see the end of it. At its height the huge crowd filled Melbourne’s Swanston Street – for 1.1 kilometres – from Latrobe Street to Federation Square.

Thousands of people were still waiting at Melbourne’s state library, unable to move, for more than half an hour after the march began. By the time they set out, probably tens of thousands were already filling Federation square – over a kilometre away.

No news helicopters arrived to film at the height of the march, so the true number may never be known – something hardly imaginable had this been a right wing mobilisation.

The main union presence seen by this observer (i.e. in the back two thirds of the crowd) was the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) and Health Services Union (HSU). There was also Jesuit and Uniting Church contingents. But mostly the tiny union, church and any left presence was completely overwhelmed by the huge crowd.

Speakers included Linda Burney, the Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, Former ALP minister Peter Garret and Michele O’Neil, President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.