Eleven Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations, 10 located in Queensland and one in the ACT, have been convicted and fined for not lodging their annual returns for the 2010–11 financial year.
The prosecutions were brought by the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Anthony Beven, as part of an ongoing campaign to maintain high reporting levels among corporations registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act).
Unless exempted, medium and large-size corporations are required to submit a general report, a financial report and an audit report to the Registrar by 31 December each year. Small-size corporations are required to lodge just a general report. Last year 96 per cent of corporations were compliant with their reporting obligations.
While the vast majority of corporations meet their reporting obligations under the CATSI Act a few do not.
‘The vast majority of corporations meet their reporting obligations,’ said Mr Beven. ‘I will continue to pursue the small minority that deny their members, creditors and stakeholders up to date information.’
Annual returns for the 2011–12 financial year are now due.
The convicted corporations are:
|
Corporations |
Location |
Fines |
|---|---|---|
|
Inner Island Kulkalgal (Torres Strait Islanders) Corporation (ICN 4010) |
Thursday Island |
$200 |
|
Mount Morgan Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 54) |
Palm Island |
$3,500 |
|
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Corporation Gold |
Mount Isa |
$1,500 |
|
Bedourie Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 1179) |
Mount Isa |
$2,000 |
|
Burrumburru Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 7292) |
Mount Isa |
$2,000 |
|
Kurtjar Economic Development Aboriginal Corporation |
Mount Isa |
$2,000 |
|
Williejuddara Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 229) |
Mount Isa |
$2,000 |
|
Manbarra Nanggarra Wanggarra Aboriginal Corporation |
Townsville |
$1,500 |
|
Townsville Thuringowa Region Indigenous Men’s Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 4404) |
Townsville |
$1,500 |
|
Wanjahnin Women's Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 4696) |
Townsville |
$1,500 |
|
Capital Development Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 7226) |
ACT |
$1,000 |
The matters were prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
Media contact
Patricia Gibson
(02) 6146 4743
13 September 2012
ORIC MR1213-07