An 800-strong protest took place in front of the Parliament House in the state capital, Perth, according to the West Australian newspaper.
Protesters were chanting "save the communities, close the gap.”
Looks like a great rally for remote communities in Perth happening now #closethegap#SOSBLAKAUSTRALIAhttp://ift.tt/1x3cAlE
— Rachel Siewert (@SenatorSiewert) March 19, 2015
Premier Colin Barnett and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Peter Collier went out to speak to protesters, but were booed, ABC News reports.
Protestors turn their back on @ColinBarnett as he asks them to "walk in his shoes" #SOSBLAKAUSTRALIAhttp://ift.tt/1x3cAlF
— Georgia (@oncloudstreet) March 19, 2015
The Perth rally is one of several taking place all over Western Australia.
Tonight's #Melbourne rally against the forced closure of #Aboriginal communities in WA. #auspolhttp://ift.tt/1x3cAlG
— Tomtom (@forevertoremain) March 19, 2015
The protest is over a government plan to close up to 150 remote Indigenous communities in Western Australia due to a change in the funding scheme.
Taking a stand #SOSBLAKAUSTRALIAhttp://ift.tt/1x3cAlH
— Sheree Lowe (@jarvislowe) March 19, 2015
Last week after Tony Abbott supported the state initiative, telling ABC local radio in Kalgoorlie that it was not for the government to, “endlessly subsidize lifestyle choices if those lifestyle choices are not conducive to the kind of full participation in Australian society that everyone should have.”
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