The National Indigneous Australians Agency – a government agency with a Voice-like mission to ensure Aboriginal people have a say in Australian politics – is actively conducting internal investigations into 15 cases of potential fraud, totaling up to $12 million.
The NIAA employs more than 1,400 staff across Australia and is responsible for “listening to communities and their aspirations”, CEO Jody Broun told a Senate estimates hearing on Friday morning.
The NIAA’s mission is ‘to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a say in the decisions that affect them’.
During the hearing, coalition senators Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Kerrynne Liddle raised concerns about the allegations of misconduct during the hearing.
A NIAA representative revealed that the fifteen cases “equal to one percent of the total number of organizations funded by the organization.”
At the insistence of Ms Nampijinpa Price, he admitted that the amount of money linked to these 15 fraud investigations totaled US$12 million.
“There are three cases pending in court, totaling just over $3.5 million,” he added.
Coalition Senators Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Kerrynne Liddle raised concerns about the misconduct allegations during a Senate estimates hearing on Friday morning
Minutes earlier, Integrity Group Manager Sean Worth argued that due to the nature of such investigations, it is not yet possible to “quantify any potential losses due to fraud.”
‘Some ultimately result in a referral to the police and the Public Prosecution Service… At that point, the cases actually leave our hands and end up in the hands of the prosecutors.’
Ms Broun said: “The NIAA is delivering an ambitious agenda to empower First Nations people and communities across Australia.
“Our national presence, including here in Canberra, allows us to lead and influence across government.”
Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy was expected to attend the hearing representing Minister Linda Burney. Only Senators are required to attend, and Mrs. Burney is in the House of Representatives.
However, on Friday, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher appeared in her place.
Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy was expected to attend the hearing representing Minister Linda Burney. Only senators are required to attend. However, on Friday, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher appeared in her place
The NIAA falls under the responsibility of Indigenous Australian Minister Linda Burney
Senator Malcolm Roberts asked the NIAA to clarify how the $5.8 million funding package it received in the government’s previous budget to set up a Makarrata Commission had been spent.
Dr. Simon Gordon, acting group manager of Empowerment and Recognition, said none of the money had gone to the Commission itself.
Instead, $607,066 has been spent so far on “understanding treaties and truth-telling processes in the United States and internationally,” he said.
“This will include some desktop research, but also some bilateral and multilateral meetings with states and territories.”
In total, Dr. Gordon could recall about 25 bilateral meetings held in the past year where treaties and truth-telling were discussed.
The agency is awaiting further instructions from Ms Burney on how to spend the remainder of the $5.2 million.
This will take place after consultation with the First Nations community, some of whom were in mourning and took a vow of silence following the overwhelming no vote on the Voice to Parliament proposal.
Senator Malcolm Roberts asked the NIAA to clarify how the $5.8 million funding package it received in the government’s previous budget for a Makarrata commission had been spent. The Makarrata Commission would work with a constitutionally anchored Voice to Parliament, which was voted down