Geelong football player Mathew Stokes has slammed Prime Minister Tony Abbott in an open letter for 'isolating ' Indigenous Australians with his remark about the 'lifestyle choices ' of remote communities . In his comment , published on his Victorian club 's website on Friday morning , the 30-year-old noted that while he did not think Mr Abbott was 'deliberately being racist ' , he believed that 'one comment from someone in such a powerful position can cause so much damage ' . 'His words have isolated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders even more than they are already , ' Stokes wrote . Geelong football player Mathew Stokes slammed Tony Abbott for isolating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders 'even more than they are already ' The letter comes after Mr Abbott voiced his support for the closure of over 100 remote Aboriginal communities across Western Australia earlier this month . 'It 's the job of the taxpayer to provide reasonable services in a reasonable way , indeed to provide high quality services in a reasonable way , ' he told ABC Radio in Kalgoorlie . 'What we ca n't do is endlessly subsidise lifestyle choices if those lifestyle choices are not conducive to the kind of full participation in Australian society that everyone should have . ' The comment sparked a furious response from the Labor Party , The Greens and Indigenous leaders such as Noel Pearson who branded it 'racist ' , disrespectful and 'ignorant ' . His open letter was a response to the PM 's remark that taxpayers should n't fund the 'lifestyle choices ' of Australians living in remote communities . Mr Abbott was voicing his support for the closure of over 100 remote Aboriginal communities across Western Australia earlier this month . Stokes has now added his voice to the debate after being disappointed by discussions amongst his own teammates following the highly controversial remark . 'The comments from my circle of mates ranged from ignorance , misinformed and that old Australian way of using humour to get away with some pretty offensive statements , ' Stokes wrote . ' I thought to myself at the time , if that is coming from the mouths of my mates – many who are educated and have some understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues - imagine the conversations going on at smoko all over the country ! ' 'So my open letter today is not about politics , or a commentary on what we as a country do right or wrong . It 's not about past decisions made , dollars spent or programs funded . It 's about the damage caused by one single statement . It 's about the disharmony that can come from one man 's words . ' He went on to question how the comment would reflect back on Australia , saying 'for him to make the remarks he did , as the leader of our country – what must the world think of us ? ' Stokes also reflected on his own experience of growing up as an Indigenous Australian , admitting that while he had not been on the receiving end of much racism , he empathised with those who had . Stokes reflected on his own experience of growing up as an Aboriginal Australian , admitting that while he had not been on the receiving end of much racism , he empathised with those who have been . 'We have such a divide from our First Australians and comments like this have ability to drive us further apart . ' I am a strong supporter of the work being done to close the health gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous Australians and there is much great work being done , but comments like those made recently by our PM only serve to empower the ugly side of our society . ' Stokes ' full letter can be read on the Geelong Cats website .
Geelong player wrote an open letter that was published by his club website . Stokes said he did not think Mr Abbott was deliberately being racist . However he said his comments 'empower the ugly side of our society ' PM 's remark sparked a furious response from Indigenous leaders . They were made when he voiced support for the closure of one remote Aboriginal communities across WA earlier this month .