Revelations that 1258 indigenous corporations receiving taxpayer funding have failed to comply with basic reporting requirements have led to renewed calls for a comprehensive audit of the industry.

One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson said complete transparency and accountability was paramount to ensure Australian taxpayers received value for money with the indigenous grants they funded.

“The Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) has revealed 1258 indigenous corporations have not lodged required reports for the 2023-24 financial year,” Senator Hanson said.

“This is particularly the case with larger organisations which have not lodged general reports, financial reports, auditor reports or director reports – or in some cases, none of them at all – as required under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.

“This law significantly reduces the compliance required of indigenous corporations in comparison to that which is demanded by ASIC under the Corporations Act 2001, yet these indigenous organisations are not even meeting these reduced standards.

“Some of these organisations have eight or nine-figure budgets and millions of dollars’ worth of assets, with CEOs earning wages well over $250,000.

“One Nation renews our call for a comprehensive audit of this corrupt, nepotistic aboriginal industry that is preying on Australian taxpayers, denying meaningful assistance to indigenous Australians in genuine need, and which has failed for decades to make any meaningful progress in closing the gaps.

“The Australian people have every right to know exactly how every cent of their money is being spent, but the people running this gravy train clearly do not want to be held accountable. There will never be meaningful progress in closing the gaps until those charged with closing them are held accountable.

“Indigenous Australians minister Malarndirri McCarthy appears more interested in enforcing welcomes to country than enforcing the law.”

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