Is Mise - Well put. Why should we be forced to support them.

Yes, is lifestyle choice. Trouble is we do not have unlimited choices. Many have fewer than others. What choice do the indigenous have in WA. Many I suspect choose between living in slum conditions, on outskirts bigger town, or returning to their homelands, out stations or small communities. Many have found the latter gives them better health, less danger for their kids.

Truth is, there are few jobs in either choice.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/editorials/black-homeland-culture-is-no-mere-lifestyle-choice/story-e6frg71x-1227259069379

http://www.smh.com.au/comment/remote-communities-arent-a-utopian-lifestyle-choice-but-they-are-good-for-our-people-20150311-1415ji.html

Unlike you, Paul, I have been privileged to have lived with Indigenous Australians, for some of whom I was the first non-Aboriginal person that they had ever seen.
This particular mob were healthy, happy and didn't need any handouts; they were independent hunter gatherers.
There is nothing to stop today's Aboriginals from living the same lifestyle if they so choose; there are still some people who can teach the needed skills.
However if they choose a European lifestyle then let them be treated equally with others who follow that mainstream lifestyle.

Equality for all Australians.

Dear Flo,

You've raised some very valid points.

Both Noel Pearson as well as an editorial
in "The Age," agree that pushing remote people
into urban areas won't work.

"The Age," tells us that the congregation of
people from remote homelands in town-sized settlements
has proven socially disastrous. Nor do such
settlements become economically self-sustaining."

My borther lives out Kempsey way in NSW and it offers
limited employment opportunities and he talks
about the people who have moved to the are from
remote communities in the past have lapsed into
a despairing existence of living rough and drinking hard.
"The Age" editorial confirms this to be also true in
much larger centres like Alice Springs and Broome.

Perhaps Mr Abbott should have had further discussion with
Aboriginal leaders as well as people who are more
familiar with the problems involved before he made his
comments. It's not too late to still do that now and
decide what's the best approach to take for all concerned.

I think the people who are jumping up & down about what Abbott said
have no idea what they are supporting.
Do they expect the government to provide for a village of say 100 people
300 kms from say one of the roadhouses to have a school, post office,
medical centre, service station, supermarket, baker etc etc.

The more you look at it it becomes more stupid.

'Do they expect the government to provide for a village of say 100 people
300 kms from say one of the roadhouses to have a school, post office,
medical centre, service station, supermarket, baker etc etc.'

u are being generous Bazz. Some communities are far smaller than this and are used only at certain times of year. Those making the most noise are the aboriginal industry that has largely made good incomes from being sent to schools in Regional Centres or cities. The debate between stolen and saved is never had due to bigotted academics and ideologist who depise western civilisation but suck off its benefits.