West Australian Premier Colin Barnett says his comments about remote indigenous communities have been misunderstood but he admits to have been "a bit loose" in talking about it.
As protesters rallied around the country on Friday against the plan, Mr Barnett appeared to retreat from comments that services could be cut for up to 150 of the 274 remote communities.
He instead said "a significant number" would close.
"No person will be forced from their land," Mr Barnett told reporters.
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"But the state will not be able to provide services across that many communities.
"Some of the larger communities, I hope, over time will become gazetted towns ... some will continue as communities but probably with more people and, yes, there might be associated small outposts around them ... close enough so that children can go to school."
He reiterated that some of the communities had problems with education, health, and - contentiously - the neglect and abuse of children.
"I know it's an emotional issue, I know it has been stirred up a little bit and some people have been unfairly and unnecessarily alarmed.
"Maybe I was a bit loose with my language, I can see that.
"I can understand there are people protesting (but) I think they are misunderstanding what I'm saying.
"There's been an over-concentration on the closure-type issue and I accept some blame in terms of responding the way I did to initial questions.''
But Mr Barnett said the outcome would be a far better condition for Aboriginal people.
"I am absolutely confident good will come from this."
Mr Barnett said the process would take "probably decades".
While the Premier said he had encountered a lot of goodwill from Aboriginal people who he met this week in the Pilbara and they wanted "a better life", WA Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said the plan has caused unnecessary anxiety among some of the state's most disadvantaged citizens.
"This government's management of the remote indigenous communities has been chaotic, uncertain, disjointed and hopeless," Mr McGowan said.
"I have been shocked and appalled by the way that the Premier and the Liberal Party have victimised and carried on about these people.
"And now they don't even know what their policy is."
The plan may have grabbed international attention - with GreenLeft Weekly flagging planned rallies in cities including Hong Kong, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Vancouver and Washington - but Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said no one had brought it up with her.
"In none of my discussions has this issue been raised," she told reporters.
