Socialists, it seems, are not made of sugar.

Thunderstorms followed by drenching autumnal showers did not deter a loose collection of anti-Abbott government activists from gathering at central Sydney's Belmore Park on Sunday to protest Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s stance on asylum-seekers, the environment, industrial relations, free trade and gay marriage.

Thousands rally in Sydney's March in March protest. Credit:Dean Sewell

The gathering, which was matched by similar events around Australia, was a left-wing echo of the infamous ‘‘Convoy of No Confidence’’ rallies held against Julia Gillard's former Labor government, at which Mr Abbott and other Coalition MPs appeared alongside offensive signs, to much public criticism.

The signs at the rally ranged from those comparing Mr Abbott with Hitler, to placards calling him ‘‘gutless’’ and one simply portaying a pair of Speedos with a giant red line crossed through them.