"I don't know whether to be pleased for the Indigenous people of the North West or once again be left speechless at the bare effrontery of the National Party," she said, following last week's announcement by Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall that the Friends of Myall Creek had secured a $1,066,981 grant through round two of the Regional Cultural Fund which will go towards completing a permanent memorial and educational centre.

"I'd like to remind Mr Marshall that at the 180th commemoration of the massacre on June 10 last year, the Labor Party had actually announced a substantial $3 million-plus package to kick-start the $7 million centre.

"But the National Party was so lacking interest in the event at that time, and indifferent to what it represents for Indigenous Australians, that they failed to respond at all to this great Labor initiative.

"But now, a week out from a state election that is looking bad for the Coalition, and very bad for the National Party in particular, they have suddenly remembered that Indigenous Australians are an important part of regional life and have scrambled to find some money to claw back desperately needed support."

Ms O'Brien said while "imitation may be the most sincere form of flattery", she believes it's poor form that the Nationals "couldn't even find the funds necessary to boost what is a critical piece of architecture in the Indigenous life of this state".

"Once again, we have the clearest evidence that the National Party has no ideas of its own to progress rural and regional Australia, and that it is always willing to play second fiddle to the big-city corporate interests of the Liberal Party," she said.

"Scrounging up $1 million for a $7 million project shows how phony their expressions of concern for indigenous Australians really are."

In response, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall confirmed that the $1 million funding is not an election promise but actual funds secured through the NSW Regional Cultural Fund. He said the figure was what the Friends of Myall Creek asked for in their grant application.

"I'm really disappointed that Debra has chosen to try and politicise what is a very significant issue and project in our community," he said.

"The funding comes from the NSW Regional Cultural Fund and represents the exact amount that was requested in funding applied for by Friends of Myall Creek Memorial. This will fund the second stage of a three-stage project and allows the committee to now access some significant philanthropic support which required a strong sign of support from government before it could become available.

"This is an actual grant, unlike the Labor Party's. This is actual money that has been signed and approved, it's not dependent on the result of the election."

As for the timing of the announcement, Mr Marshall said the funding approvals only came through a few weeks ago, and he was waiting for the Friends of Myall Creek to have a meeting so he could meet with them to announce it.

"Most of the committee members are not from the area, many of them live in Sydney," he said.

Labor's funding package, announced nine months ago, would enable plans to be finalised for a centre that features the best interactive technology, prepare an updated business plan, undertake preliminary construction works at the site and hire a project officer to oversee the development. It is also intended to house artefacts and other cultural materials of local Aboriginal people, and provide a space where groups of students and other visitors may watch video materials, hear presentations and participate in educational projects.

Ms O'Brien promised that Labor will also assist with the establishment of a permanent foundation to ensure the long-term future of the Myall Creek memorial centre to attract further support from public and philanthropic bodies.