The state government wants to end the idea it has a "whiteboard somewhere with crosses on it" representing remote Aboriginal communities to be closed, promising instead an "enormous" community consultation process.
Premier Colin Barnett, Aboriginal Affairs Minister Peter Collier, Child Protection Minister Helen Morton and Regional Development Minister Terry Redman announced on Thursday a plan to design reform based on what Aboriginal people want.
Mr Barnett alarmed the indigenous community in November by saying about half of 274 regional communities under review would close.
Since then, hundreds of people have rallied against the move with angry protests in the Perth CBD, Parliament House, Heirisson Island and even interstate and overseas.
Mr Barnett admitted on Thursday he knew his comments provoked strong reactions but said the government of a rich state such as WA could not just say what was "easy" and "nice" when some of its people were living in "Third World" conditions.
He said $4.5 billion in federal and state funding was being poured into Aboriginal policy in the state, providing a "confusion of services" that despite a lot of good intentions was an "inefficient and ineffective" use of public money.
The result was that some areas had unsafe and uneducated children, unacceptable public health and hygiene standards and "extreme" domestic violence and drug issues.
Mr Barnett said he could not in good conscience walk away from these issues.
"The evidence is so strong, so compelling it cannot be ignored," he said, confirming that "significantly" fewer small communities would be the eventual result.
"Non-negotiables", Mr Barnett said, would be safety of children and access to education.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Peter Collier said the government would take its cue from community leaders in changing the way funding was delivered.
He said local leaders were already reasonably well known and the government would call for them to be part of a two-tier system of District Leadership Groups and Regional Strategic Advisory Councils (one for the Kimberley and one for the Pilbara), which would also include local service organisations, local councils and relevant state agencies.
Membership of these groups will be organised over coming weeks.
A reform unit will coordinate the process and will answer to Regional Development Minister Terry Redman and Child Protection Minister Helen Morton.
Mr Collier said when some communities eventually closed it would only be after "enormous" community consultation and with the support of local people.
The only alternative was for the government to "hover along in mediocrity", he said, and for him to one day leave his job knowing he had achieved nothing of value for Aboriginal people.
Mr Collier apologised for the dismay and alarm the prospect of remote communities' closure had caused residents and said he hoped Thursday's announcement would provide "solace and comfort".
He said the reform was at heart "nothing to do" with the federal government announcement cutting off $30 million in essential services funding, though this had helped generate public discussion of the issues.
Instead, Mr Collier said, it was part of a broader review the government had been working on for two years.
An announcement had already been made on Monday regarding youth program funding, and further announcements would be made regarding the Department of Corrective Services and early intervention strategies.
Minister Redman said that within six months, there would be a plan; within five years, there would be "significant change" in remote communities; and within a generation, there would be "transformational change".
He said it was not the intention to force Aboriginal people to choose between a connection to country and being part of a modern economy and while he did not expect the reform to be all "smooth sailing", he did expect to come up with a plan that indigenous people supported.
The announcement continues a considerable softening of the recent tone of the debate.
A week ago Mr Barnett said his original statements about the number of communities closing had been "a bit bold" and indicated that the closure of some small communities could take years, if not decades.
Opposition Aboriginal affairs spokesman Ben Wyatt said the government should have started speaking with the Aboriginal community a year ago.
"We've seen this thrashing around from the Aboriginal Affairs Minister and the Premier trying to justify why [remote communities] need to be closed," he said.
"We have a major reform announced today that as far as I can tell is simply to do what every West Australian expects from its government – speaking to people.
"My only concern is, the damage on this policy development has already been done – that is, you've said to these communities, Premier: 'I'm closing 150 of them ... You've failed ... You're riddled with STDs, it's a disgrace, so we're going to close you down.'
"And we still don't have a plan.
"It's not the way you treat people who are incredibly vulnerable."
Mr Wyatt said the debate around reforming remote communities was a reasonable conversation to have, but it should have begun long before the Premier made "concluding remarks" that created a climate of fear, anger and frustration and forced the "hapless" Peter Collier to dash around apologising and trying to "fix the mess".
"What is ringing in my ears and the ears of the Aboriginal community around WA is that the Premier has said we have failed as a community," he said.
Mr Wyatt said he thought Regional Development Minister Terry Redman understood the importance of "respectful dialogue" and should keep Mr Barnett well away from community consultation proceedings.
"The man can't say anything without offending everyone," he said.
