Prosecution outcomes

This section brings together information about prosecution outcomes for offences under the CATSI Act, including court decisions, penalties and other orders made by the courts.

About prosecutions

Criminal prosecutions and civil penalty proceedings are regulatory tools used to address serious breaches of the CATSI Act, promote accountability, and support good governance in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations.

The Registrar pursues prosecution outcomes for the most serious and harmful wrongdoing, generally involving conduct that is dishonest, intentional or highly reckless, and also for offences of strict liability, such as failure to lodge annual reports.

Learn more about the Registrar’s functions and approach to prosecutions in ORIC's regulatory compliance framework.

List of prosecution outcomes

Prosecution outcome for Menzies Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 639)

Criminal prosecutions

Prosecution outcome for: Menzies Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 639)

Court and judge/magistrate: Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court (Magistrate Yoo)
Legislative provision/s breached

1.    s348-1(1)
2.    s348-1(1)
3.    s330-10(1)
4.    s330-10(1)

Failed to lodge general, financial and audit reports for the 2022–23 and 2023–24 financial years.

Convicted and fined $4,900.

Prosecution outcome for Dharug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 2622)

Criminal prosecutions

Prosecution outcome for: Dharug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 2622)

Court and judge/magistrate: Parramatta Local Court
Legislative provision/s breached
  1. s348-1(1)
  2. s348-1(1)
  3. s348-1(1)
  4. s348-1(1)
  5. s348-1(1)
  6. s348-1(1)
  7. s330-10(1)

Failed to lodge general reports for the 2024–25 financial year.

Failed to lodge reports for the 2023–24 and 2024–25 financial years.

Fined a total of $700.

Prosecution outcome for Townsville Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Women

Criminal prosecutions

Prosecution outcome for: Townsville Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Women (ICN 1653)

Court and judge/magistrate: Townsville Magistrates Court
Legislative provision/s breached
  1. s348-1(1)
  2. s348-1(1)
  3. s348-1(1)
  4. s348-1(1)
  5. s348-1(1)
  6. s348-1(1)
  7. s330-10(1)
  8. s330-10(1)
  9. s201-150(1)
  10. s201-150(1)

Failed to lodge general reports for the 2021–22, 2022–23 and 2023–24 financial years

Failed to lodge financial reports for the 2022–23 and 2023–24 financial years

Failed to hold AGMs for the 2022–23 and 2023–24 financial years.

Convicted and fined $45,000.

Prosecution outcome for Mungoorbada Aboriginal Corporation

Criminal prosecutions

Prosecution outcome for: Mungoorbada Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 1061)

Court and judge/magistrate: Darwin Local Court
Legislative provision/s breached
  1. 348-1(1)
  2. 348-1(1)
  3. 348-1(1)
  4. 348-1(1)
  5. 330-10(1)

Failed to lodge annual reports with the Registrar for the 2023-2024, and 2024-2025 financial years.

Convicted and fined $500. 

Prosecution outcome for Broome Aboriginal Media Association

Criminal prosecutions

Prosecution outcome for: Broome Aboriginal Media Association (Aboriginal Corporation, ICN 914)

Court and judge/magistrate: Broome Magistrates Court
Legislative provision/s breached
  1. 348-1(1)
  2. 348-1(1)
  3. 348-1(1)
  4. 348-1(1)
  5. 348-1(1)
  6. 348-1(1)
  7. 330-10(1)

Failed to lodge annual reports with the Registrar for the 2023-2024, and 2024-2025 financial years.

Convicted and fined $7,500. 

Prosecution outcome for Bunuba Dawangarri Aboriginal Corporation

Criminal prosecutions

Prosecution outcome for: Bunuba Dawangarri Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 7813)

Court and judge/magistrate: Broome Magistrates Court (Magistrate Potter)
Legislative provision/s breached
  1. 348-1(1)
  2. 348-1(1)
  3. 330-10(1)

Failed to lodge annual reports with the Registrar for the 2023–24 financial year.

Fined $10,000 and ordered to pay costs of $194.30.

Hopevale Thurrpiil Community Justice Group Aboriginal Corporation

Criminal prosecutions

Prosecution outcome for: Hopevale Thurrpiil Community Justice Group Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 8183)

Court and judge/magistrate: Cooktown Magistrates Court (Magistrate Morton)
Legislative provision/s breached

Legislative provision/s breached:

  1. 330-10(1)
  2. 348-1(1)

Failed to lodge annual reports with the Registrar for the 2022–23 and 2023–24 financial years.

Discharged without proceeding to conviction pursuant to section 19B(1)(d) of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) on the conditions:

  • recognisance of $3,000
  • good behaviour for 18 months.

Prosecution outcome for Anindilyakwa Advancement Aboriginal Corporation

Criminal prosecutions

Prosecution outcome for: Anindilyakwa Advancement Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 8751)

Court and judge/magistrate: Darwin Magistrates Court
Legislative provision/s breached
  1. 348-1(1)
  2. 348-1(1)
  3. 348-1(1)

Failed to lodge annual reports with the Registrar.

Discharged without conviction under section 19B(1)(d) of the Crimes Act on the conditions:

  • security of $1,000
  • good behaviour for 1 year.

Prosecution outcome for Adjumarllarl Aboriginal Corporation

Criminal prosecutions

Prosecution outcome for: Adjumarllarl Aboriginal Corporation

Court and judge/magistrate: Darwin Magistrates Court
Legislative provision/s breached
  1. 348-1(1)
  2. 348-1(1)
  3. 348-1(1)

Failed to lodge annual reports with the Registrar for the 2023–24 financial year.

Discharged without proceeding to conviction under section 19B(1)(d) of the Crimes Act on the conditions:

  • security of $2,000
  • good behaviour for 2 years.

Prosecution outcome for Mamu Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC

Criminal prosecutions

Prosecution outcome for: Mamu Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (ICN 3789)

Court and judge/magistrate: Innisfail Magistrates Court
Legislative provision/s breached
  1. 348-1(1)
  2. 348-1(1)
  3. 348-1(1)
  4. 348-1(1)

Failed to lodge annual reports with the Registrar.

Fined $4,000.

Prosecution outcome for Nguiu Club Aboriginal Corporation

Criminal prosecutions

Prosecution outcome for: Nguiu Club Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 8335)

Court and judge/magistrate: Darwin Local Court (Judge Woodroffe)
Legislative provision/s breached
  1. 348-1(1)
  2. 348-1(1)
  3. 348-1(1)
  4. 330-10(1)

Failed to lodge annual reports with the Registrar for the 2021–22, 2022–23 and 2023–24 financial years.

Fined $1,000.

Prosecution outcome for BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 9123)

Criminal prosecutions

Prosecution outcome for: BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 9123)

Court and judge/magistrate: Downing Centre Local Court (Judge Horan)
Legislative provision/s breached
  1. 330-10(1)
  2. 348-1(1)
  3. 348-1(1)
  4. 330-10(1)
  5. 348-1(1)
  6. 348-1(1)

Failed to lodge annual reports with the Registrar.

Discharged without conviction under section 19B(1)(d) of the Crimes Act on the conditions:

  1. security of $10,000
  2. good behaviour for 2 years.

Prosecution outcome for Woolkabunning Kiaka Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 9172)

Criminal prosecutions

Prosecution outcome for: Woolkabunning Kiaka Aboriginal Corporation

Court and judge/magistrate: Bunbury Magistrates Court (Magistrate McEwen)
Legislative provision/s breached
  1. 330-10(1)
  2. 330-10(1)
  3. 348-1(1)
  4. 348-1(1)
  5. 348-1(1)
  6. 348-1(1)

Failed to lodge annual reports with the Registrar

Fined $1,500.

Prosecution outcome for Barkly Region Alcohol and Drug Abuse Advisory Group Aboriginal Corporation

Criminal prosecutions

Prosecution outcome for: Barkly Region Alcohol and Drug Abuse Advisory Group Aboriginal Corporation

Court and judge/magistrate: Tennant Creek Local Court
Legislative provision/s breached
  1. 330-10(1)
  2. 348-1(1)
  3. 348-1(1)

Failed to lodge 2023-24 annual reports with the Registrar.

Fined $1000.

Prosecution outcome for Munupi Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 9397)

Criminal prosecutions

Prosecution outcome for: Munupi Aboriginal Corporation

Court and judge/magistrate: Darwin Local Court
Legislative provision/s breached
  1. 330-10(1)
  2. 330-10(1)
  3. 348-1(1)
  4. 348-1(1)
  5. 348-1(1)
  6. 348-1(1)

Failed to lodge annual reports with the Registrar.

12-month good behaviour order with $1000 recognisance.

Prosecution outcome for Pulikutjarra Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 2999)

Criminal prosecutions

Prosecution outcome for: Pulikutjarra Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 2999)

Court and judge/magistrate: Alice Springs Local Court (Judge Hopkins)
Legislative provision/s breached

5 x s. 348-1(1) 

Failed to lodge annual reports with the Registrar.

Convicted and fined:

Fine - $2000.00
Levy - $750.00

Total: $2750.00

Prosecution outcome for Jundaru Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 2223)

Criminal prosecutions

Prosecution outcome for: Jundaru Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 2223)

Court and judge/magistrate: Karratha Magistrates Court
Legislative provision/s breached

1 x s. 330-10(1)
4 x s. 348-1(1)

Convicted and fined $20,000 and ordered to pay court costs of $171.70.

Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (ICN 8743)

Criminal prosecutions

Prosecution outcome for: Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC

Court and judge/magistrate: Adelaide Magistrates Court
Legislative provision/s breached

330-10(1)
348-1(1)
Failed to lodge annual reports with the Registrar.

Convicted and fined $2,000.

Prosecution outcome for Munjuwa Health Housing and Community Aboriginal Corporation

Criminal prosecutions

Prosecution outcome for: Munjuwa Health Housing and Community Aboriginal Corporation

Court and judge/magistrate: Queanbeyan Magistrates Court
Legislative provision/s breached
  1. 330-10(1) CATSI Act
  2. 348-1(1) CATSI Act
  3. 348-1(1) CATSI Act

19B(1)(c) of the Crimes Act 1914 conviction.

Prosecution outcome for Umoona Aged Care Aboriginal Corporation

Criminal prosecutions

Prosecution outcome for: Umoona Aged Care Aboriginal Corporation

Court and judge/magistrate: Adelaide Magistrates Court
Legislative provision/s breached
  1. 348-1(1)
  2. 330-10(1)
  3. 348-1(1) 

Failed to lodge annual reports with the Registrar for the 2021-22 financial year. 

Convicted and fined:

  1. Count 1: fine of $10,000 was imposed
  2. Count 2: a fine of $10,000 was imposed
  3. Count 3: a fine of $10,000 was imposed.