About the Registrar
The Registrar
The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations is an independent statutory office holder appointed by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act). Mr Anthony Beven was appointed to the position on 1 October 2007.
Five years on—an overview
When Anthony Beven was appointed Registrar of Indigenous Corporations at ORIC on 1 October 2007, there were very clear-cut priorities on the table. At the time the focus was on
improving the corporate governance and accountability of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations and helping with the transition to the new legislation.
Now, five years on and into his second term, he reflects on the highlights, the goals reached and the challenges ahead.
For the full overview, see the ORIC yearbook 2011–12 [6 pages PDF 689Kb]
Interview—Improving governance in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations
On his appointment in October 2007, the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Anthony Beven, outlined his priorities for the first 18 months of his term.
For the full interview see the attached file Interview with Registrar—Feb 2008 [4 pages PDF 138Kb]
The role of the Registrar
As an independent statutory office holder responsible for the administration of the CATSI Act, the Registrar has powers to intervene that are similar to those exercised by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
As a statutory office holder, the Registrar is not under direction for decisions made under the CATSI Act. However, the Registrar is subject to performance management and review as part of an Australian Workplace Agreement with a Deputy Secretary of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA). To participate in decisions on administrative matters affecting ORIC, the Registrar is a member of the FaHCSIA Corporate Leadership Group. Various arrangements, including an in principle agreement, are in place to enable ORIC and FaHCSIA to manage possible conflicts of interest.
Statement of expectations and statement of intent
As a result of the Review of the Corporate Governance of Statutory Authorities and Office Holders (the Uhrig report), ministers can outline their expectations of agencies and then the agency will respond with a statement of intent which details how they will fulfil the minister's expectations.
ORIC
Our name has changed. We are now called the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC). We are required to change our name under the new CATSI Act which started on 1 July 2007.
ORIC has been set up to help the Registrar administer the CATSI Act and to support and regulate corporations for Indigenous people throughout Australia. ORIC also provides an avenue for new incorporations, delivering a tailored service that responds to the special needs of Indigenous groups and corporations, and striving for national and international best practice in corporate governance.
Our purpose
Our purpose is to effectively administer the CATSI Act, which requires us to:
- register Indigenous groups that want to become corporations
- help Indigenous corporations run properly, according to their own rules and cultures, and to make sure they don't break the law
- offer support, advice and training to help Indigenous corporations do the best job for their communities
in a manner consistent with principles of sound corporate governance and in the context of current and emerging Australian and international law and practice on good corporate governance.
Our vision
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people building strong communities through strong corporations.
Our key clients
We are focused on serving:
- Indigenous individuals, groups and corporations
- people accessing the public registers under the CATSI Act—Public Register of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations, and Register of Disqualifed Directors
- the minister and agencies supporting the minister
- the Australian Government and state and territory governments
- agencies with interests in funds and/or assets controlled by Indigenous corporations
- other agencies regulating the Indigenous corporate sector
- Indigenous peak bodies in critical sectors such as medical, housing, land holding and legal.
See a profile of corporations currently incorporated under the CATSI Act.
Strategic plan 2011–14
ORIC's strategic plan establishes ORIC's performance priority as providing quality services in line with our statutory functions.
The strategic plan outlines our role and vision. It also sets out:
- our business directions
- our priorities
- our key areas of focus for 2011–14
You can download electronic versions of ORIC's strategic plan and service charter from our publications page.
Portfolio agency
ORIC is part of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) portfolio.
This was announced by the Prime Minister on 24 January 2006. ORAC (as it was called at the time) and the Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination (OIPC) became part of the new Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA) portfolio, formerly the Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS). This new department was formed on 27 January 2006. It is now called the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).
ORIC was previously part of the Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA). It was transferred to DIMIA on 1 July 2004 after the Australian Government’s decision to abolish both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services (ATSIS) and distribute their programs and services to mainstream Australian Government agencies.
Budget
For details about the Budget see the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs website.