Press Release

Western Australia’s leading agricultural lobby group, the Pastoralists and Graziers Association (PGA), is supporting Premier Colin Barnett’s decision to address the viability of remote Indigenous communities.

“It is time that we have a frank and open discussion about the future of those remote Indigenous communities that continue to struggle, to offer essential services like education and health care to their members,” PGA President Tony Seabrook said.

“There is a crisis in these communities that continues to be ignored by those in government and in the media and we welcome the Premier’s decision to address the difficult issue of how we maintain these communities into the future.”

“The West Australian pastoral industry has a long association with many remote Indigenous communities, with many communities existing on pastoral leases.”

“What we need is the ability to openly discuss, without fear of incrimination, the future of these communities and develop a plan to ensure their viability not only to their members, but to the greater community as well.”