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Regional | Aboriginal

Events planned worldwide to support Aboriginal communities on May 1st

States across Australia, Berlin, Los Angeles, London and New Zealand are organising events for the 2nd Call to Action Against the closure of Aboriginal communities to take part on the 1st of May.

Meanwhile today in Perth members of the Nyoongar Community are preparing to march on Parliament to carry the same message.

Protests against the closure of remote Aboriginal communities have spread far and wide across the globe both on social media and on the ground.

The Nyoongar Tent Embassy circulated a call for support to participate in today’s march in an effort to have their concerns heard and addressed by the government.

The Premier of Western Australia, Colin Barnett announced last year that the State would no longer provide funding for over 150 remote Aboriginal communities which was supported by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Earlier this week the Australian Prime Minister was in New Zealand and faced criticism from the Māori Party and a number of other politicians as well as supporters of the Aboriginal communities over the apparent refusal of his government to acknowledge the call of the indigenous people of his country

In an open letter to Tony Abbott the Māori Party claimed that Abbott’s actions were reintroducing “flawed policies of the past and will result in the loss of basic  human rights such as access to clean water and the right to choose where to live.”

Meanwhile Marama Fox says she will attend a protest in Australia at her own expense next month to support the cause.

The New Zealand Labour Party has also sent a letter to the Australian Labor Party outlining their concerns in regards to the community closures.

Labour’s Māori caucus chairman, Peeni Henare, says they have received the full support of leader Andrew Little in initiating the letter.

New Zealand’s Prime Minister, John Key has remained tight lipped on the issue refusing to comment, saying it is an issue for the Australian government to address.

For more information on the marches across the globe planned for May 1st follow the link.