AROUND 60 people closed off the Forster Tuncurry Traffic Bridge on Friday as they joined thousands across the nation to protest the closure of remote Indigenous communities.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Protestors gathered at John Holland Park in Forster just before 1.30pm with signs and banners stating: “Always was, always will be Aboriginal land” and: “I stand with my mob because it’s my lifestyle choice.”
Protestors could be heard chanting “close the gap, not the community” as they marched over the bridge to Tuncurry’s Lone Pine Memorial Park by police escort.
Despite the protest causing disruptions to traffic for about half an hour, some didn’t seem to mind with one woman even getting out of her car to cheer on the crowd.
Kylie Paulson from Forster was one of many locals who joined the protest. She said if the government’s proposal was to go ahead it would be a case of history repeating itself.
“I personally think it would be a repeat of the genocide,” she said.
“It’s effectively taking people off their land, their country and away from their history.”
Sarah White said she joined because she is passionate about the issue.
“I’m here for the same reason everyone else is. I don’t think it is right what the government is trying to do. They shouldn’t take people off their land,” she said.
“It goes against everything I’ve been taught.”
The protest was organised by local woman Kay Corbett as part of the organisation SOS Blak Australia.
Ms Corbett said she was pleased with the turnout considering the wet weather.
“It’s just incredible to see such dedication even in this weather,” she said.
“I would say there’s anywhere between 50 to 60 people here, it’s amazing.
“I would like to say to the lady caught in traffic cheering us as we came off the bridge, thank you so much, you are a beautiful person.
“I think we were successful in what we set out to achieve and that was to let a lot of people know what is happening.”
Protests have been held across the country since the Western Australian government announced it intended to close about 150 remote communities after responsibility for their essential services moved from the federal government to the states.
WA Premier Colin Barnett appeared to be backing away from the controversial plan on Friday telling News Corp he would instead opt for a “hub and orbit” approach to remote communities.
This plan would see only the smallest communities closed while others would be built-up to service their surrounding area.
