The Anindilyakwa Land Council chief executive officer Mark Hewitt told a Senate committee hearing he sought to be given shares in an Aboriginal-owned mine in which he is also CEO to provide “stability” to the project, while the mine was funded by more than $15 million in royalties from traditional owners distributed through the ALC.

Under questioning from independent ACT Senator David Pocock at the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee budget estimates hearing last Friday, Mr Hewitt was forced to address the attempt to get the shares, which would have added further conflicts of interest to a situation already laden with conflicts of interest.

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