Since January 2013, a further 15 corporations registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 have been convicted and fined for failing to lodge their annual returns for the 2010–11 financial year. Eleven of the corporations are in Western Australia, three in the Northern Territory and one in Queensland.
The prosecutions were brought by the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Anthony Beven, as part of the Registrar’s ongoing campaign to maintain high levels of reporting compliance.
| Corporations | Location | Fines excluding costs |
|---|---|---|
| Carnarvon Community Patrol Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 3381) | Geraldton, WA | $2,000 |
| Djuldjurd Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 4731) | Darwin, NT | Convicted, bond s20(1)(a) |
| Jajee-warda Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 4714) | Roebourne, WA | $1,500 |
| Kakadu Arts and Culture Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 7373) | Jabiru, NT | $220 |
| Kupungarri Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 413) |
Derby, WA |
$2,000 |
| MAAMBA Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 1649) | Perth, WA | $5,000 |
| Muluuri Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 4773) | Coolgardie, WA | $220 |
| Ngurra Yuldoo Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 3728) | Wiluna, WA | $200 |
| The Arrernte Council of Central Australia Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 442) | Alice Springs, NT | $12,000 |
| Wagoongalier Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 4489) | Carnarvon, WA | $1,000 |
| Western Desert Puntukurnuparna Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 319) | Port Hedland, WA | $6,000 |
| Winganjie Blue Water Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 2997) |
Wyndham, WA | $750 |
| Yaburara and Coastal Mardudhunera Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 3134) | Roebourne, WA | $5,000 |
| Yuenmanda (Elder Clan Women) Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 671) | Mornington Island, Qld | $14,000 |
| Belang Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 3738) | Geraldton, WA | $2,750 |
| TOTAL | $66,140 |
Those corporations that received fines of more than $5,000 had previously been convicted of not lodging reports with the Registrar.
The matters were prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
Since 1 July 2012, a total of 38 corporations Australia-wide have been convicted and fined in excess of $96,000 for the non-lodgment of financial reports following prosecutions brought by the Registrar.
Lodging annual returns with the Registrar ensures the public register of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations maintained by the Registrar’s office is accurate and up to date.
Mr Beven said, ‘I am determined to pursue the small minority of corporations that do not meet their reporting obligations. Last year 95 per cent of corporations complied with their reporting obligations. The information in these reports is important for the members, creditors and stakeholders of each corporation.’
Annual returns for the 2012–13 financial year are due by 31 December 2013.
Media contact
Patricia Gibson
(02) 6146 4743
ORIC MR1314-09
2 October 2013