<text>  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 clubs 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. Its 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 cant 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 PMs remark that taxpayers shouldnt 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. Its not about past decisions made, dollars spent or programs funded. Its about the damage caused by one single statement. Its about the disharmony that can come from one mans 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. 