The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Anthony Beven, today placed Mitakoodi
Aboriginal Corporation under special administration.
The Queensland corporation provides affordable rental accommodation for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people who reside in and around Cloncurry. It owns and manages
about 70 residential properties.
Mr Glen Walker from the Queensland-based accounting firm Walker Reid has been
appointed as the special administrator until 27 January 2012.
In April 2011 the Registrar completed an examination of the corporation’s books under
section 453-1 of the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders) Act 2006
(CATSI Act). The examination revealed some serious deficiencies in corporate governance
and financial management.
‘This is one of our oldest corporations and it provides an important and much needed service
to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in north-west Queensland,’ Mr Beven said.
Mitakoodi Aboriginal Corporation was incorporated on 1 July 1980 and is registered under
the CATSI Act. For a long time the corporation operated successfully but began to lose its
way recently due to a lack of good governance and management practices.
‘We want to make sure the corporation’s affairs are put back in order as quickly as possible
and with minimal interruption,’ said Mr Beven. ‘As the special administrator Mr Walker will
work closely with the members of the corporation to put in place strong financial
management policies and procedures.’
Background
Special administration is a unique power under the CATSI Act to help a corporation address
its problems. The aim is to return an improved corporation back to its members. For more
information see the fact sheet Special administrations: what members and directors should
know available at www.oric.gov.au.
18 July 2011
Media contact
Christa De Jager
(02) 6219 7611
Ref: ORIC MR1011-32
Special administrator
Glen Walker (07) 5494 3744
Mobile: 0408 739 404
Email: walkerreid@bigpond.com