The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Anthony Beven, today noted the incorporation of a new Aboriginal-owned and controlled corporation working with stores in remote South Australia.
The new corporation, registered this week under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act), aims to ensure the supply of healthy and affordable foods to the Anangu PitjantjatjaraYankunytjara (APY) lands.
Mai Wiru Regional Stores Council Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 7379) will be the peak body coordinating the operations of community-owned stores in the region.
The new corporation will implement and monitor the 2001 APY Mai Wiru stores policy¹, the first Indigenous policy of its kind dealing in food security and a winner of a major National Heart Foundation award in 2008. It will also provide human resources support to all the stores on the APY lands, central buying to reduce prices and freight costs and greater coordination among the stores.
Mr Beven said, ‘I congratulate the APY lands stores, and especially the founding members of the Mai Wiru Regional Stores Council Aboriginal Corporation on this initiative which will improve food security and affordability on the lands. The individual stores are all community-owned and controlled and by coming together they will be stronger and more secure.
‘The Mai Wiru stores policy has been a groundbreaking health initiative and the new council has a big job ahead of it. ORIC will be there to offer support, advice and training to help members develop strong governance and leadership.’
The CATSI Act is Commonwealth legislation and commenced on 1 July 2007. It provides for the incorporation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations and guides how the corporations are run.
12 May 2010
Contacts
ORIC
Sayuri Piper (02) 6219 7658
ORIC MR0910-29
Mai Wiru Regional Stores Council Aboriginal Corporation
Coordinator, John Tregenza 0407 858 219
¹Information about the Mai Wiru stores policy can be found on the Nganampa Health website: www.nganampahealth.com.au