Revisit remote cuts: Wyatt

Shadow minister for Aboriginal affairs Ben Wyatt has called on the State and Federal Governments to re-enter negotiations to secure the future of WA indigenous remote communities.

The call was prompted by the $15 million deal between the South Australian and Federal Governments to continue funding services in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands in the north-west of the State.

The compromise will see the Federal Government continue to fund services for those communities until a separate agreement is made to transfer responsibility to the SA Government in the future.

The agreement will benefit more than 1500 Aboriginal people in remote SA communities.

Mr Wyatt said it was essential WA indigenous communities received the same support from the Federal Government.

"I am relieved for the people of the APY Lands that the Federal Government reversed its decision to withdraw from funding essential and municipal services to now agreeing to continue funding these services in the APY Lands for the foreseeable future.

"In WA, we saw Premier Colin Barnett simply accept the Abbott Government's withdrawal of its long-held responsibility to fund these services to the extent that Mr Barnett did not even discuss the issue when he recently met with the Federal Minister Nigel Scullion."

Mr Wyatt said a five-year timeframe would allow the State Government appropriate time to enter into a respectful and inclusive dialogue with Aboriginal people in WA remote communities.

IBN corporation chief executive Tony McRae said the lack of consultation over community closures was causing distress and destroying the confidence of Aboriginal communities in the Pilbara.

"People are devastated that their lives and culture are being treated with such disregard by the Barnett Government. No other Australian citizens are, or would be, subjected to this kind of treatment," he said.

"I've been meeting with people in communities around Tom Price and they are heartened that local MPs Vince Catania MLA, Stephen Dawson MLC and Federal MP Alannah MacTiernan, as well as the Mayor of the Shire of Ashburton, have visited and expressed their opposition to the closure of communities."

However, Aboriginal Affairs Minister Peter Collier said the agreement between the Federal and WA Governments was final.

"What's happened in South Australia is a matter for them," he said.

"The WA Government agrees this is not about saving money but about spending money in the best way to improve the lives of Aboriginal people."

Mr Collier said the State Government would be making further announcements about these reforms in the near future.