The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Anthony Beven, has today announced the end of the special administration of the Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation (Julalikari).
Julalikari is one of the largest Aboriginal corporations in Australia and an icon in the Northern Territory. In the last financial year it had a turnover of approximately $15 million. It provides housing, employment and social services for people living in Tennant Creek and surrounding homelands and communities. It also owns a number of commercial businesses in Tennant Creek.
In February 2017 the Registrar placed the corporation under special administration after an examination identified problems with Julalikari’s governance and strained relationships with business partners, members and funders.
Over the last seven months the special administrators have restructured the corporation, improved its internal operations and resolved long running disputes. Julalikari now has a much stronger focus on service delivery and its core objective: improving the lives of its 274 members and other Aboriginal people in the Barkly region of the Northern Territory.
At its annual general meeting in Tennant Creek yesterday the special administrators announced a new benefits package for Julalikari’s members and staff. The package includes discounts on purchases at the BP fuel complex and Red Rooster in Tennant Creek, businesses jointly owned by Julalikari.
The new member directors of the corporation were also introduced at the AGM: Barb Shaw, Michael Jones, Ross Williams, Richard James, Linda Turner, Rebecca Moore, and Norman Frank. For the first time Julalikari’s board will also comprise two experienced independent directors: Olga Havnen, the CEO of one of the largest Aboriginal medical services in the Northern Territory, and Neil McLeod, the managing partner of Deloitte, Alice Springs.
The recruitment of a new CEO is almost complete and a new rule book was registered by the Registrar shortly after the AGM.
‘Julalikari is an integral part of the economy of the Barkly region and delivers critical services,’ said Mr Beven. ‘The special administration has refreshed the corporation and rebuilt confidence in it. This will lead to better outcomes and improved services for Aboriginal people.’
The Registrar will continue to monitor the corporation's performance for up to 12 months and provide corporate governance training to the directors in October 2017.
Media contact
Lisa Hugg
(02) 6146 4738
ORIC MR1718-03
8 September 2017