REMOTE Western Australian communities gained vocal supporters yesterday in Warrnambool as about 100 people marched through the CBD in protest at government moves to cut support.
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Chanting “no pride in genocide” and “we will never be defeated” they started with a rally at the Civic Green and finished at the offices of Wannon MP Dan Tehan.
Similar protests were held around Australia triggered by Premier Colin Barnett’s warning earlier this year that between 100 and 150 of the 274 remote communities could close as government services were cut and Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s comments that residents made a lifestyle choice to live in remote areas.
Several speakers addressing yesterday’s Warrnambool rally said the Western Australian situation was akin to forced removal of indigenous mission settlements in south-west Victoria.
Musician Brett Clarke said racist governments had no jurisdiction over indigenous people and their land. “We are the true custodians,” he said.
Elder Len Clarke, whose late father Banjo Clarke grew up on the former Framlingham mission where government welfare officers removed children from families, predicted Western Australian policies would cause an indigenous refugee crisis.
“Australia has been labelled as one of the most racist countries in the world,” he said.
His sister Patricia told The Standard during the rally she had vivid memories of growing up on the mission and seeing children removed from their families. “Kids were taken out screaming and crying -— I find that very hard to deal with,” she said.
Singer-songwriter Shane Howard, who has been a long-time supporter of indigenous rights, said government handling of the issue seemed to be going backwards.
“If this was happening in another country there would be outrage,” he told The Standard during the street march.
“The best thing governments can do is shut up and listen.
“You’ll hear governments say they spent billions on this and that and nothing seems to be working — well why not let Aboriginal community groups spend the money.
“Governments have failed repeatedly.”
Rally organiser Ken McKean encouraged the community to show further support by signing a petition available at Gunditjmara Co-op and Brophy centre.
“Once it’s got plenty of signatures we’ll hand it to Mr Tehan to take to Parliament,” he said.
Mr Tehan said he would be happy to table the petition.
“I understand Premier Barnett is looking at the issue again to see what is the best way forward,” he said.