The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Anthony Beven, has today placed the Mamu Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC under special administration.
The corporation is based in Innisfail, Far North Queensland and is registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (the CATSI Act).
The corporation administers land on behalf of the Mamu people. The native title rights and interests of the Mamu people were recognised in a consent determination made on 1 November 2013. The determination recognised the Mamu people’s exclusive native title rights over approximately 7546 hectares of land and non-exclusive native title rights over about 64,000 hectares traditional land stretching from Cooper Point in the north to Maria Creek in the south of Far North Queensland.
All six directors wrote to the Registrar on 23 January 2015 requesting the appointment of a special administrator to help resolve some financial and governance problems.
The Registrar has appointed Gerry Mier and Tony Jonsson from the Cairns-based firm of Grant Thornton Australia Limited as the special administrators of the corporation until 30 June 2015.
‘Managing the native title rights on behalf of the Mamu people is an important responsibility. Good governance and sound business practices are paramount in keeping a corporation afloat and enabling directors to represent members’ interests,’ Mr Beven said. ‘I commend the directors for approaching my office for help.’
The special administrators will work closely with the members and stakeholder to resolve the challenges facing the corporation.
Background
Special administration is a special measure under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006. For more information see the fact sheet Special administrations: what members and directors should know available at www.oric.gov.au.
Media contact
Christa de Jager
(02) 6146 4737
ORIC MR1415-24
3 March 2015
Special administrators
Gerry Mier and Tony Jonsson
(07) 4046 8888
gerry.mier@au.gt.com
tony.jonsson@au.gt.com