Three Western Australian corporations registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act) will have their special administrations finalised at the end of June 2008.
The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Mr Anthony Beven, said that in each case the special administrators had restored the operations of corporations to good order and it was appropriate for them to be returned to their directors.
‘I am delighted that the corporations can now function on a sound financial footing so that they serve their members properly,’ he said.
At recent general meetings the corporations were all required to adopt a new rule book which complies with the CATSI Act. The meetings at Kunawarritji and Glen Hill (Mandangala) achieved the 75% majority required to change their rules, while the special administrator of Goomburrup exercised his power to implement rule changes and these were registered by ORIC on 25 June 2008.
At those meetings, directors were elected to take control of the corporation once the special administration ends.
Kunawarritji Aboriginal Corporation
The corporation, registered on 30 May 1995, provides municipal services (including power generation) for the Kunawarritji community. It also manages and operates the community store which is a stopover point for tourists travelling along the Canning Stock Route.
An examination of the corporation’s affairs found poor corporate governance, with a lack of financial and administrative records. Because of its precarious financial position, the Registrar appointed Mr Ron Gamble of the Perth based firm of BDO Kendalls as administrator on 2 January 2007.
Since his appointment, Mr Gamble has restored good operational order and put in place proper financial procedures and controls.
The Registrar terminated the special administrator’s appointment on 30 June 2008.
Goomburrup Aboriginal Corporation
The corporation, registered on 8 July 1994, has a wide range of activities which generally seek to provide support to Aboriginal people living in the Bunbury area. Its activities include partnering with other community organisations to provide community services, and holding and managing land to provide an income stream to support the activities of the corporation.
An examination of the corporation revealed it had poor corporate governance and carried a large debt which it was unable to service.
The Registrar appointed Mr Eamonn Thackaberry of the Perth based firm of Chalgrove Projects as administrator on 16 July 2002. Since that time Mr Thackaberry has worked to resolve numerous matters relating to a number of properties owned by the corporation which were impacting on the corporation’s viability. These matters have now been resolved and the corporation is debt free and in a sound financial position.
Mr Thackaberry met with the directors-elect in Bunbury on 26 June 2008, where they discussed new rules for the corporation. The corporation has also appointed a business planning consultant to discuss how to implement their plans to support their local community.
ORIC has planned to conduct a corporate governance workshop with the directors and other members of the corporation.
The Registrar terminated the special administrator’s appointment on 30 June 2008.
Mandangala Aboriginal Corporation
The corporation, incorporated on 17 May 1981, has a range of activities, including land management, providing for the financial and social needs of the members of the Mandangala community (located on the Glen Hill Station via Kununurra) and delivering essential services on the station.
An examination in May 2007 revealed that corporate governance practices were non existent and assets had been sold and funds used by certain directors.
The Registrar appointed an administrator, Mr Anthony Hayes Douglas-Brown of the Perth based firm of Grant Thornton on 5 September 2007.
In his final report, Mr Douglas-Brown confirmed that he had paid the debts of the corporation, put in place a mechanism to recover corporation funds which had been misused, and that operational order had been restored.
ORIC conducted a corporate governance workshop with the directors in June 2008.
The Registrar terminated the appointment of the special administrator on 30 June 2008.
Lisa Donnelly 02 6219 7611
30 June 2008
ORIC MR0708–09
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