Thousands rally in Melbourne against forced closure of Aboriginal communities

Rally follows Prime Minister Abbott’s remarks that living in remote communities is a “lifestyle choice” for indigenous Australians that should no longer be subsidised. Photo: Instagram/alana_j_s.

The rally, and others like it, follows a decision by Western Australia to discontinue services to between 100 and 150 remote Aboriginal communities. The move was backed by Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Protesters take part in a traditional smoking ceremony at the intersection of Swanston and Flinders street on April 10, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. The gathering is part of ongoing protests against government plans to close down remote indigenous communities in Western Australia. These remote communities house more than 12,000 aboriginal people. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty)

Lifestyle Choices

“What we can’t do is endlessly subsidise lifestyle choices, if those lifestyle choices are not conducive to the kind of full participation in Australian society that everyone should have” — Tony Abbott, Australia’s Prime Minister in March 2015

Abbott’s comments last month were harshly criticised by Aboriginal leaders as being “hopeless” and “disrespectful”.

‘Wanted for genocide’ — Western Australia Premier Barnett and Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Photos by alana_j_s on Instagram.

Abbott’s comments also inspired this powerful poem by young Kimberley Aboriginal woman Daniella Rochford.

An estimated 5,000 turned out in Melbourne on Friday evening, bringing the city centre “to a standstill” and disrupting public transport for several hours.

“Aboriginal Land, always was, always will be” — a boombox artist keeps the rhythm during Friday’s rally.

A solidarity rally was held in Sydney where Maori, indigenous New Zealanders, led a haka — a traditional ancestral war dance— as a show of support.

Rallies have also been held in Aboriginal communities, on Friday and below, in the Kimberley in March.

The rally echoed an ongoing frustration with the slow pace of change on Indigenous affairs at federal and state level. Indeed, the Prime Minister’s appointed Indigenous Advisory Council said that its advice has been “falling on deaf ears”.

Further rallies are planned at the weekend. We’ll continue to follow developments at Reported.ly.