Aboriginal leaders take aim at Abbott

Prime Minister Tony Abbott was criticised by his most influential Aboriginal supporters yesterday for describing people living in WA's remote communities as making a "lifestyle choice".

Indigenous leader Noel Pearson labelled the statement "very disappointing and hopeless" and called on the Commonwealth to take responsibility for policies affecting the communities' future.

Warren Mundine, Mr Abbott's indigenous adviser, warned that social unrest could result from the Federal Government's decision to stop funding municipal services to WA's remote communities in three years.

"They're not living in these communities because they're a retired teacher having a sea change," he said. "They're there because it's the essence of their lives, it's the thousands of years their families have lived there, it's their culture, it's their religion, it's about who they are and their connection to land.

"We know what the disastrous results are when you force people off country and move them into large centres - they are unemployed, they end up in drug and alcohol situations, they end up in violent crime."

The criticism came as Premier Colin Barnett shifted the focus of community closure from finances to social dysfunction.

"There are 274 remote Aboriginal communities in WA and that is not sustainable and by that, I mean children aren't attending school, young children are being abused both sexually and physically, there are no employment opportunities and I am not going to ignore that," Mr Barnett said.

Mr Abbott defended his comments yesterday.

"I was making the fairly obvious point that all Australians are free to live where we choose but inevitably there are limits to what we can reasonably expect of the taxpayer," he said.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda said people in communities were the most disadvantaged people in Australia.

"We actually don't have the privilege of making lifestyle choices," Mr Gooda said.

WA Aboriginal Affairs Minister Peter Collier said nothing would change until at least the middle of next year and there would be wide consultation before then. "What's important is that we support healthy communities that are sustainable and provide opportunities for young people," he said. "No-one will be denied access to country for cultural purposes."