The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Anthony Beven, has today placed the Muluridji Tribal Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (Muluridji Tribal) under special administration.
The corporation was registered on 5 July 2011 under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act) to manage the native title rights of the Muluridji people.
In December 2011 the Federal Court of Australia made two consent determinations recognising the Muluridji people’s native title rights and interests over a combined area of 12,030 hectares of land and waters near Mareeba and Mount Molloy in north Queensland. The determinations include exclusive native title rights in relation to 745 hectares and non-exclusive rights in relation to the balance of 11,285 hectares.
The Registrar received a number of complaints about membership of Muluridji Tribal and appointed an examiner in July this year to review the corporation’s books and records. The examiner found that internal disputes about membership were interfering with the proper governance of the corporation.
Muluridji Tribal currently has 67 members, mostly from Mareeba and Cairns.
‘One of the leading causes of corporation failure is conflict,’ Mr Beven said. ‘The special administrator will review Muluridji Tribal’s rules around membership eligibility and board composition to resolve the current conflict.’
Mr Brian Woods from the Cairns-based firm of DFK Kidsons has been appointed as the special administrator until 30 May 2014.
‘Because of their special role it is particularly important to safeguard corporations established to hold and manage native title. My office works with native title bodies after they have received a determination to ensure that they are well governed,’ Mr Beven said.
Special administration is a special measure under the CATSI Act. For more information see the fact sheet Special administrations: what members and directors should know available on the ORIC website: www.oric.gov.au.
Media contact
Patricia Gibson
(02) 6146 4743
ORIC MR1314-17
9 December 2013
Special administrator
Brian Woods
Phone: (07) 4031 1390
Mobile: 0407 033 985
Email: brianwoods@dfkkidsons.com.au