While a Māori rights movement in South Australia is organising protest marches about the government's plans to close down rural Aboriginal communities, a demonstration yesterday in Perth turned violent.
Chairperson of the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia, Michelle Nelson-Cox. Photo: Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association
About 100 people have been taken into custody, after they expressed their opposition to government plans to cut funding for essential services in some remote communities.
A scuffle developed as police attempted to give a man a 'move-on' notice.
Some of the protesters indicated they would go to the Perth police watch-house in support of the arrested man.
Several other protesters became involved in heated exchanges with officers, who were part of a heavy police presence which included officers on horseback.
The front doors of Parliament were locked during the exchange to prevent protesters getting inside.
The latest incident comes a month after a protester shoved Premier Colin Barnett as he addressed a previous rally on remote Indigenous communities.
Meanwhile, a Noongar leader from Western Australia, Michelle Nelson-Cox, who is the chairperson of the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia, said she would prefer that if people want to protest to join the rallies that have been organised on 1 May.