The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Anthony Beven, has today announced the end of the special administration at the Githabul Nation Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC.
The Kyogle-based corporation was established to manage the native title rights of the Githabul people and administer over 1,120 square kilometres of land on their behalf. The land is spread across nine national parks and 13 state forests in northern New South Wales.
The corporation was placed under special administration on 17 July 2014 after an examination of the corporation’s books revealed that it had not maintained accurate membership records, not held an annual general meeting within the required timeframe for over three years, had high levels of internal disputation and not kept proper financial records.
The special administrator has worked closely with an advisory group and members to put the corporation’s affairs back in good order, to improve the corporation’s rule book and to put a strong framework in place for the future governance and management of the corporation. The special administration was recently extended to allow enough time to secure funding for the corporation and recover 19 certificates of title to land from a member of the corporation.
‘I believe the corporation is now in a much better position,’ Mr Beven said. ‘It’s not unusual for corporations involved in managing native title to struggle at times with balancing family tensions and getting on with business.
‘The members of Githabul have carefully considered a new board structure to ensure all families are represented fairly. This will provide a fresh start for the corporation.
‘An elders group has also been established to provide guidance on traditional matters such as culture and land, allowing the directors to focus on the corporation’s administration and operations.’
The new directors of the corporation will take over from today.
The Registrar will provide corporate governance training for the new directors.
Background
See the Registrar’s media release of 17 July 2014 (ORIC MR1415-01).
Media contact
Lisa Hugg
(02) 6146 4738
ORIC MR1415-23
27 February 2015