❓ Question regarding the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs' awareness of allegations against the former CEO of Buurabalayji Thalanyji Aboriginal Corporation (BTAC). The Minister acknowledges awareness through media reports and conversations, and clarifies the Commonwealth's regulatory role.
AnsweredQoN 56Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BUURABALAYJI THALANYJI
ABORIGINAL CORPORATION — MATTHEW SLACK
56. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs:
When did the minister first become
aware of allegations made against the former CEO of Buurabalayji Thalanyji
Aboriginal Corporation, or BTAC, and did he discuss them with the Premier or
any of his cabinet colleagues?
ABORIGINAL CORPORATION — MATTHEW SLACK
56. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs:
When did the minister first become
aware of allegations made against the former CEO of Buurabalayji Thalanyji
Aboriginal Corporation, or BTAC, and did he discuss them with the Premier or
any of his cabinet colleagues?
AnswerView source ↗
Are there any particular allegations
the Leader of the Nationals WA is worried about?
Ms M.J. Davies : The
allegations that were raised in Parliament last week.
Mr B.S. WYATT : There were a range
of allegations, because over time a range of concerns have been raised.
Ms M.J. Davies : When did the
minister first become aware of allegations made against the former CEO?
Feel free to elucidate the member.
Mr B.S. WYATT : In The
Australian , at the time, Andrew Burrell was writing about this. I think it
was over the last 12 months and at least throughout 2019. So I have been aware
of those reports. Indeed, I had a range of conversations, from memory, with a range
of different Thalanyji people, both those in the pro–Matthew Slack
camp, let us call it, and those in the against–Matthew Slack camp. The
reality is—as I do when I receive complaints about the operations of
prescribed body corporates—I refer those on to the commonwealth
government because, unfortunately, as much as I would like to have some
regulatory role in them, I do not. Whether it is any of them around the state, some operate well and some,
unfortunately, do not. What we have seen with Thalanyji is something we
have of course seen before around CEOs who perhaps misuse—I noted with
interest the credit card commentary made by the member for North West Central.
Again, I remember when this happened at the Western Desert Lands Aboriginal
Corporation and the frustration that people had with the Office of Registrar of
Indigenous Corporations, which has responsibility to appoint administrators and
to go in and respond to complaints. Generally, the view is that it is slow, the
time it takes is frustrating and during that time people manage to rip-off
corporations until something is done. As I said, it happened to WDLAC. That is
fresh in my mind. Now, of course, unfortunately, Thalanyji is going through
that as well.
When did I first become aware? I suspect
it would have been whenever that first article in The Australian was
published—maybe then or thereabouts. I know I had a range of
conversations with people at Yule River bush camp. It may have been 2018, but I
suspect it was more likely 2019, when people raised these issues with me. As I always
do, I refer them on to ORIC or the federal minister whose jurisdiction it is to
investigate and in the end appoint administrators over PBCs.
the Leader of the Nationals WA is worried about?
Ms M.J. Davies : The
allegations that were raised in Parliament last week.
Mr B.S. WYATT : There were a range
of allegations, because over time a range of concerns have been raised.
Ms M.J. Davies : When did the
minister first become aware of allegations made against the former CEO?
Feel free to elucidate the member.
Mr B.S. WYATT : In The
Australian , at the time, Andrew Burrell was writing about this. I think it
was over the last 12 months and at least throughout 2019. So I have been aware
of those reports. Indeed, I had a range of conversations, from memory, with a range
of different Thalanyji people, both those in the pro–Matthew Slack
camp, let us call it, and those in the against–Matthew Slack camp. The
reality is—as I do when I receive complaints about the operations of
prescribed body corporates—I refer those on to the commonwealth
government because, unfortunately, as much as I would like to have some
regulatory role in them, I do not. Whether it is any of them around the state, some operate well and some,
unfortunately, do not. What we have seen with Thalanyji is something we
have of course seen before around CEOs who perhaps misuse—I noted with
interest the credit card commentary made by the member for North West Central.
Again, I remember when this happened at the Western Desert Lands Aboriginal
Corporation and the frustration that people had with the Office of Registrar of
Indigenous Corporations, which has responsibility to appoint administrators and
to go in and respond to complaints. Generally, the view is that it is slow, the
time it takes is frustrating and during that time people manage to rip-off
corporations until something is done. As I said, it happened to WDLAC. That is
fresh in my mind. Now, of course, unfortunately, Thalanyji is going through
that as well.
When did I first become aware? I suspect
it would have been whenever that first article in The Australian was
published—maybe then or thereabouts. I know I had a range of
conversations with people at Yule River bush camp. It may have been 2018, but I
suspect it was more likely 2019, when people raised these issues with me. As I always
do, I refer them on to ORIC or the federal minister whose jurisdiction it is to
investigate and in the end appoint administrators over PBCs.
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