Antinuclear

Melbourne city at standstill as thousands marched to support remote Aboriginal communities

Thousands rally in Melbourne in support of remote Aboriginal communities ABC News, 11 Apr 15 Thousands of people have staged a rally in Melbourne against the forced closure of remote Aboriginal communities, bringing parts of the CBD to a standstill.

There were major delays to public transport on Friday as Flinders Street and St Kilda Road closed to traffic. Yarra Trams tweeted at 7:10pm to say Swanston Street trams running between the Arts Precinct and Melbourne Central Station were able to resume service.

Earlier, Metro Trains advised passengers to access Flinders Street Station via Elizabeth Street to avoid the crowds………

Last month, Tony Abbot backed the West Australian Government’s plans to close nearly half of the state’s 247 remote communities and said it was not unreasonable if the cost of providing services such as schools, outweighed the benefits.

“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,” he said.

The Prime Minister’s comments received criticism from Aboriginal leaders, as well as both sides of politics.

“I think it’s a very disappointing and hopeless statement by the Prime Minister, quite frankly,” Indigenous leader Noel Pearson told The World Today in March……http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-10/rally-in-melbourne-in-support-of-remote-aboriginal-communities/6384826

April 11, 2015 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | aboriginal issues, Victoria