Federal Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy will not approve the Anindilyakwa Land Council’s budget for this financial year, until the council has demonstrated to the National Indigenous Australians Agency that it can prioritise and implement the recommendations of an “independent” review which was ordered after a damning government audit early last year.
Ms McCarthy said in a statement Thursday that instead of approving the ALC’s 2024-25 budget, she would be approving an operational budget until December 1, and that the full budget would only be considered when ALC demonstrated to the NIAA that it was sufficiently prioritising and implementing the recommendations of the review and the Australian National Audit Office audit.
The eternal battle to manage funds continues. Without adequate oversight and lack of testicular fortitude by government, funds will always be maladministered because of tribal hierarchy.
. . . . no more need be said/