Advanced Search

Share Coverage



Category: Indigenous Policy / Government and Politics / Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) / Community and Society / Business, Economics and Finance

Federal Government threatens Julalikari Corporation with administration

Wednesday, 21 Dec 2016 15:46:28 | Jane Bardon

Protesters took to the street of Tennant Creek in October 2015 accusing Julalikari of service failure. (ABC News: Jane Bardon)

A Northern Territory Aboriginal corporation which is under investigation over its spending of Commonwealth money has been given a month to explain why it shouldn't be put into special administration.

The move follows the decision by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PMC) last year to investigate the Tennant Creek-based Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation over "allegations of serious non-compliance" with federal funding programs.

That included $1.2 million for a youth training facility and grants for a series of community centres provided in 2009.

Key points:

  • Julalikari has been told to prove it complied with federal law
  • An Indigenous leader says many in the community are angry at Julalikari
  • The NT Government may support Julalikari taking on more programs

In 2015 Julalikari's financial report showed it had received $3.5 million from the federal and NT governments for providing the facilities as well as juvenile diversion programs.

But the report also showed the money was left in its bank account unspent, prompting angry protests by Indigenous leaders and residents last October.

The Commonwealth Indigenous Corporations watchdog ORIC notified Julalikari in September this year it was starting an examination of Julalikari's books.

ORIC has now given Julalikari until 23 January to show it has complied with federal Indigenous corporations law.

If it fails to do so it will placed under the control of a special administrator.

The regulator has outlined a series of concerns to Julalikari, but has refused to make those public until Julalikari has had a chance to respond.

The PMC said was still completing its own investigation into Julalikari.

Many likely to welcome action against Julalikari

Senior Tennant Creek Indigenous community leader, LT, said many people in the community would welcome the corporation being threatened with administration "because it reflects what our concerns have been about Julalikari for a long while".

"There hasn't been much service delivery in Tennant Creek and hence the reasons why we've been trying to have meetings, and held the [protest] march," LT said.

Tennant Creek community leader LT on Julalikari Photo: Community leader LT has welcomed ORIC's threat of special administration. (ABC News: Jane Bardon)

About 150 Indigenous residents marched on the corporation's remote jobs program office in October last year, demanding the organisation be reformed.

LT said there was particular ongoing unhappiness with Julalikari's delivery of the Commonwealth Indigenous jobs and training program.

"People aren't really getting any real jobs out of it and there are concerns about the night patrol and a whole range of programs," she said.

Opinions about whether Julalikari can be rejuvenated have deeply divided the town's community, LT said.

"At first many in the community wanted Julalikari to be straightened up and start providing because the elders set it up in the 1970s, but it's taken so long for anything to happen that now some people are starting to say there's no way it can be straightened up.

"Families are against families over Julalikari."

Julalikari has not yet replied to the ABC's request for comment.

But in the past it has said its acquitted all of its federal government grants properly and passed two previous audits by ORIC.

The corporation has also denied it had failed to deliver services.

Territory officials to work with Julalikari

The NT Chief Minister responded to the Federal Government's administration threat by saying his Government was going to work with Julalikari to ensure the organisation was properly providing services to the community.

"I've asked my departmental officials to go out and work with Julalikari today about exactly what is in that notice and how can we help," Michael Gunner said.

"For me the priority is making sure that the people of Tennant Creek, the people of the Barkly Region, are guaranteed service delivery."

Town camps in Tennant Creek allegedly neglected by Julalikari Photo: The Federal Government is investigating why Commonwealth funds haven't been spent replacing derelict town camp community centres. (ABC News: Jane Bardon)

The previous Country Liberals government stripped Julalikari of responsibility for providing services including Indigenous housing maintenance and tenancy management.

But Mr Gunner said his Government was supporting Julalikari's involvement in delivering additional services, including the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

"We are working with Julalikari on a range of programs. They've been part of conversations about the NDIS, when it might roll out," he said.

"They're a big part of Tennant Creek, so we'll keep working with them."

AustraliaPlus


 

Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

沪公网安备 31010602000204号

Email this to your friend