Premiers and chief ministers are demanding an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Tony Abbott, saying billions in cuts to health and education funding will have animmediate impact on services.
At a meeting in Sydney on Sunday they rejected the cuts as "completely unacceptable"and claimed hundreds of hospital beds would have to be closed across the country fromthe beginning of July.
Mr Abbott has so far resisted pressure to reverse the $80 billion in cuts over the next ten years, and has disputed the states are facing any funding emergency.
Mr Weatherill said state and territory leaders would rally voters against the cutsand the Abbott government.
"We can explain to people the depth of these $80 billion cuts, the effect that they're going to have on people getting quality health care or get a quality education for your children," he told ABC radio on Monday.
"And we'll cause the maximum amount of political pain possible for federal Liberal government so that they change their mind."
The Abbott government is facing a voter backlash over Tuesday's budget, which hiked the fuel excise, cut welfare, health and education spending, and introduced a new GP co-payment and deficit tax on the wealthy.
Two polls published on Monday showed the coalition had taken a massive hit because of the tough budget, with Newspoll giving the Labor opposition a 10-point ahead and the Fairfax-Nielsen poll a 12 point advantage.
Mr Weatherill said the polls showed voters shared state and territory leaders' concerns, but doubted they fully understood what impact the $80 billion in cuts would have on services.
"I think people have yet to absorb the fact that $80 billion worth cuts in health and education are coming down the pipe at them," he said.
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