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Stop belting up Tony, says leadership rival

Former Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull has defended the embattled Prime Minister against widespread criticism of his comments about remote indigenous communities.

On Tuesday, Tony Abbott said the government should not “endlessly subsidise” Australia’s first peoples who “choose” to live in areas where there are no jobs and schools.

Communications Minister Turnbull did not directly endorse the comments, but described the heated response as ‘irrational’, saying critics have swooped on Mr Abbott “like a pack of forwards onto a bit of loose balls”.

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“There is a fair issue there to be discussed but regrettably, people always want to turn it into a flaming match,” Mr Turnbull said Brisbane Radio 4BC.

“It’s important to put that issue on the table, talk about it rationally without turning it into a let’s-give-Tony-Abbott-a-belting occasion, as often people like to do.”

Up to 150 remote indigenous communities could be closed by the federal government.

Both Labor and the Greens have demanded an apology from the PM over the comments.

“The prime minister should apologise,” Opposition Leader Bill Shorten told reporters.

“Tony Abbott is a prime minister stuck in the 1950s. He says he’s the prime minister for indigenous Australians but he just wants to move them off their land.”

Close the Gap campaign chairman Mick Gooda said those living in remote areas “don’t have the privilege” of choosing where they live.

Mr Turnbull is yet to rule out a tilt at the top job, but has said that voters should assume that Mr Abbott will lead the Liberal Party to the next election.

The Communications Minister consistently rates as the more favoured leader compared to Mr Abbott in opinion polls.

—with AAP.

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