NAAJA CLAIMS IT’S BACK TO NORMAL WHILE AUDITS AND LEADERSHIP ROLES REMAIN OUTSTANDING AND VACANT

The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) has announced a number of organisational changes which it claims will “set it up for the challenges of the future.”

The announcement confirmed the organisation would half the maximum number of directors to eight, three of whom will be independent. The announcement also noted that a new Chief Financial Officer will begin later this month and a new Chair would be appointed at the next board meeting.

The announcement also notes that “no Aboriginal person in the Northern Territory is without legal representation in criminal matters.” Senator Nampijinpa Price said it was important to remember this was the same organisation which had seen some 90 clients unrepresented, 27 of whom had to be remanded in custody due to service failings.

“Whether or not NAAJA have now returned to full service delivery, the touting of how many thousands of people they represent coupled with the failure to acknowledge their monumental shortcomings in this regard only very recently, borders on misleading.”

The recent disasters at NAAJA have ultimately been overseen by the Albanese government. The government previously claimed to have communicated a need for improved governance to NAAJA. However, Senator Nampijinpa Price queried the strength and legitimacy of any such communication given no new chairperson or independent directors have been appointed.

Senator Nampijinpa Price also said the Albanese government should have had input or at least have been made aware of NAAJA’s proposed new constitution.

“If the government had successfully and genuinely communicated the nature and gravity of the kind of change that was required at NAAJA, they should have absolutely been made aware of the constitutional change before it was adopted.”

The announcement also signalled that the Agency was up to date with all of its financial reporting.

Senator Nampijinpa Price noted that financial reporting is a basic requirement of any charitable organisation in Australia, so the fact that they are up to date with their reporting should simply be a given. If people perceive this as something to be celebrated, it just demonstrates the long-standing double standard that seems to apply to Aboriginal-controlled or owned organisations in this country.

“I continue to say as I always have, that any organisation, regardless of who owns or controls it, must be held to the same standards, both in relation to their personnel as well as their reporting and regulatory compliance,” said Senator Nampijinpa Price.

Additionally, Senator Nampijinpa Price said the announcement lacked any mention of the two outstanding audits which are in progress. “Findings from those audits remain unclear, therefore scrutiny must remain when it comes to the financial situation at NAAJA. We cannot assume that there is nothing to see here and they are back to business as usual as this announcement would have everyone believe.”

Senator Nampijinpa Price said the trail of destruction left by the leadership of NAAJA over the last two years cannot simply be forgotten because of this announcement.

“Key issues such as the nature and extent of the government’s input into NAAJA’s new constitution and the findings from outstanding audits are yet to be settled. Until these matters are clear, and we know who will fill the vacant roles, the efficacy of the changes to NAAJA’s governance cannot be known.”

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Contact: Rebekah Hart – 0459 893 181