The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Anthony Beven, has today placed the Kanparrka Store Aboriginal Corporation under special administration.
Established in 2011, the corporation owns and operates the Kanparrka Store in the community of Haasts Bluff, also known as Ikuntji. The community is located in the West MacDonnell Ranges about 250 km west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.
Approximately 150 people live in the community and rely on the store for access to affordable and healthy food.
On 18 November 2016 the directors wrote to the Registrar and raised concerns about the store’s operations and management. They were particularly concerned that they had not been provided with up‑to‑date financial reports and the corporation’s accounts had not been audited for two years.
The directors asked the Registrar to appoint a special administrator to assist the corporation.
‘The directors at Kanparrka Store are to be congratulated on their commitment to maintaining food security for their community,’ Mr Beven said. ‘They have tried to implement stronger governance arrangements themselves, and as a last resort have asked for assistance from my office.’
The Registrar has appointed Mr Stuart Reid and Mr Austin Taylor from the Darwin-based firm, Meertens Chartered Accountants, as joint special administrators until 31 March 2017.
The special administrators will work with the corporation’s members to improve the operations of the store and its accountability to the members.
Background
For more information about special administrations see the Registrar’s fact sheet Special administrations: what members and directors should know.
Media contact
Lisa Hugg
(02) 6146 4738
Special administrators
Stuart Reid (08) 8941 3122
Austin Taylor (08) 8418 8900
Meertens Chartered Accountants
ORIC MR1617-14
21 December 2016