Remote lifestyle a choice: PM
Tony Abbott says it is not the Federal Government's responsibility to fund the "lifestyle choice" of Aboriginals choosing to live in remote communities.
Speaking during a flying visit to Kalgoorlie-Boulder yesterday, the Prime Minister argued the Commonwealth's responsibility rested on providing opportunity for both indigenous adults and children.
Mr Abbott said the Government had a responsibility to provide quality services if people made "reasonable choices".
"If you choose to live a million miles from anywhere, it is going to be very difficult for the kids to go to school, it is going to be very difficult for the adults to go to work," he said.
"If we want Aboriginal people to fully participate in our society, sure there's no reason why you can't spend part of the year in remote areas, just as white Australians choose to spend part of the year in a place where they don't work.
"But it is not the responsibility of taxpayers to fund lifestyle choices."
Premier Colin Barnett raised the possibility of shutting up to 150 of WA's 274 remote communities after the Federal Government announced last year that it would no longer fund essential services.
His comments provoked outrage from Aboriginal leaders in the Goldfields, who say community closures threaten strongly held ties to traditional country.
