The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Anthony Beven, has announced another extension of the special administration at Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation.
‘The problems at Bawinanga have proved to be highly complex and it has taken much longer than originally envisaged to resolve them,’ said Mr Beven. ‘While significant progress has been made there is still some way to go before confidence in the corporation is fully restored.’
Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation is located in Maningrida in the Northern Territory. It is a large, important and long-established organisation that provides community and essential services to the people of Maningrida and the nearby homelands.
The Registrar first placed the corporation under special administration on 31 October 2012, following a direct request from the directors for assistance. The special administration was initially for a period of six months but has been subject to a number of extensions.
In December 2013 the Registrar appointed new special administrators: Mr Gerry Mier and Mr Tony Jonsson from the Cairns-based firm of Grant Thornton for a period of three months (until the end of March 2014). Their appointment has today been extended to 30 May 2014.
‘The extra time will allow for the much needed financial reforms to be firmly embedded,’ said Mr Beven. ‘The restructuring of the corporation has been a significant task and, although the process is nearing completion, it is crucial that we see it through properly. This is particularly important for the local people of Maningrida.’
Background
Special administration is a special measure under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006. For more information see the Registrar’s fact sheet, Special administrations: what members and directors should know, available at: www.oric.gov.au.
Media contact
Patricia Gibson
(02) 6146 4743
ORIC MR1314-29
1 April 2014
Special administrators
Gerry Mier and Tony Jonsson
Grant Thornton, Cairns
Phone: (07) 4047 8888
Emails: gerry.mier@au.gt.com or tony.jonsson@au.gt.com