Thousands of workers have marched on NSW Parliament to protest against the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and called for the protection of local jobs.
Loud boos and chants echoed through Macquarie Street in Sydney as more than 2000 unionists rallied, saying the FTA would allow Chinese workers to replace local workers on major construction projects.
Unions NSW Vice President Russ Collison said Australian jobs would be razored.
"This is economic terrorism," he told the crowd.
"There'll be no work in this country. It's going to end up with the Chinese coming in, they'll be flying in and flying out.
"Good hard-working Aussies are being done over."
Numerous people addressing the crowd insisted they were not racist or xenophobic but cared for safe work practices.
Lina Cabaero from Asian Women at Work said workers from overseas have often been exploited and the FTA would worsen their conditions.
"This exploitation will become rampant," she said.
Electrical worker Michael, 47, said he attended the rally to protect his job and his son's future.
"If this gets taken away from us....I don't know anything else," he told AAP.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott told an Asian financial forum in Sydney on Thursday the FTA will benefit Australia on many levels, including removing barriers to agricultural exports, such as beef, dairy foods, lamb and wine.
