The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Anthony Beven, has today placed a Mt Isa Aboriginal corporation under special administration.
Five of the six directors of the Mitakoodi Juhnjlar Aboriginal Corporation in Queensland wrote to the Registrar on 14 July 2009 asking for a special administrator to access all the corporation’s records and assets and to ensure transparency, integrity and honesty within the corporation.
In April 2009 the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) completed an examination of the corporation’s books that identified serious deficiencies in the standards of corporate governance and financial management over the past 18 to 24 months.
‘While the examination revealed serious concerns, I am satisfied that the current directors, appointed at the annual general meeting on 31 January 2009, should not be removed from office,’ Mr Beven said.
‘I believe they have acted in the best interests of the corporation by immediately raising concerns about the activities of the former directors. These concerns were confirmed by the findings of the examination.
‘The current directors have demonstrated good judgment—they were prepared to ask for help when it was required and I expect ORIC’s involvement will be for a short period.’
The Registrar has appointed Mr Peter McQuoid of PDM Consultancy to make sure the corporation is in good operating order with strong governance procedures. ORIC will run corporate governance training in Mt Isa later this year for all interested members and directors.
The special administrator can be contacted on (07) 3103 3585 or 0435 018 879.
Background
The corporation’s broad objectives are to assist the 130 members with employment, training and land management issues. The corporation’s objectives are focused on promoting respect and recognition of the Mitakoodi people, promoting their cultural rights, heritage, language and economic wellbeing, facilitating the return of traditional land by obtaining secure title to that land, and protecting sacred sites and sites of significance on that land. The corporation is currently compliant with ORIC’s reporting standards and has been incorporated since 13 June 1996.
Special administration is a special measure under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006. See ORIC’s fact sheet Special administrations: what members and directors should know for more information.
Contact:
Lisa Donnelly
02 6219 7611
10 August 2009
ORIC MR0910-03