South Australian native title corporation under special administration

The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Selwyn Button, has today placed Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC under special administration.

Based in Port Augusta in South Australia, the corporation’s primary responsibility is to manage the native title rights and interests of the Kokatha people. The Kokatha people are traditional owners of an area of land estimated to be over 140,000 square kilometres in central South Australia.

In May this year, an examination of the corporation’s books revealed a range of governance issues, including an ongoing dispute among directors affecting the board’s ability to discharge its functions. The corporation received income of almost $5 million in 2017–18. Over half came from government grants.

‘RNTBCs have a critical role in protecting the rights and interests of native title holders, while also preserving lands of cultural significance on behalf of traditional owners. Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation is in a strong financial position and has historically performed well financially. However, the ongoing dispute between directors is compromising the governance of the corporation, which is not in the interests of its members and the traditional owners it serves’ said Mr Button.

The Registrar has appointed Mr Peter McQuoid as the special administrator until 27 March 2020.

MR1920-04