Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Hansard source

Last year, the Australian National Audit Office, the ANAO, conducted a performance audit of the Anindilyakwa Land Council. This report is to be tabled in parliament. In late August I received the independent report on the Anindilyakwa Land Council's progress in addressing recommendations made by the ANAO. The report shows the ALC governance and operations remain deficient. Although the ALC's board have acknowledged these findings and remain committed to implementation, their lack of progress is unacceptable.

In response to the independent review findings, I took several steps immediately after receiving the report. I wrote to the ALC board on 29 August to ensure the board and voters were aware of the review's findings ahead of ALC board elections, which took place on 3 September. I've taken the unusual decision to withhold approval for the ALC's 2024-25 budget. Instead, I have approved an operational budget until 1 December this year. The full budget will only be considered when ALC has demonstrated it is sufficiently prioritising and implementing the recommendations of the ANAO report. I have asked the NIAA integrity unit and the new ALC board to meet as soon as practicable after the election results are finalised to discuss the review and the board's role in implementing the ANAO recommendations. I've made sure that the full independent review report is available on the NIAA website to ensure transparency of the review, its findings and recommendations, particularly in the lead-up to the ALC elections.