Protest organiser Deborah Swan said West Australian Premier Colin Barnett’s decision to cut essential services to remote indigenous communities brought shame on the nation and was based on deceit. 

“They say these communities are unsuitable and that it is about money, but we know the real reason they are being closed is to clear the way for mining,” Aunty Deborah said. 

While its impacts were being felt far from Moree, she said it could soon have concrete implications for remote communities in our area. 

“This is not just about Western Australia,” she said. “If we let them get away with this, then it will come to NSW too.

“The intervention started in the Northern Territory and now it is being trialled in Blacktown, and we hear rumours every day that it will be coming here.”

Aunty Deborah, from the organisation Grandmothers Against Removals, said residents in Moree should show their support for demonstrations happening across the country in response to the WA community closures.

“What we can do in country NSW is show our support,” she said. “If we can peacefully demonstrate and let the government know that we won’t stand for these closures, then hopefully we can get them to change their positions.” 

She said the decision, along with the prime minister’s description of living in remote communities as a “lifestyle choice”, had brought protesters together. 

“It is not a lifestyle choice. We were forced onto those missions and reserves and now they are trying to force us off them,” she said. 

“We were brought up on these communities, that’s where our ancestors are buried, that’s where our culture is. 

“In Moree there were three missions and our connection there remain strong. They will never be broken.”