An Aboriginal corporation in Victoria’s north has found itself at the centre of accusations of poor governance and desperate tactics to keep newly elected directors from forming its board after a failed annual general meeting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The rift between members and at least one former member of Mallee District Aboriginal Services (MDAS) has raised questions about whether the organisation followed the Corporations Act at a November 29 meeting and adhered to proper process regarding nominations for board positions and proxy votes.<\/p>\n
At the AGM, a new board and chair, Nikita Hart, was elected.<\/p>\n
However, MDAS said the meeting was invalid and the former board still governs.<\/p>\n
A letter from lawyers acting for the Aboriginal service and sent on behalf of the organisation’s chair, Aunty Jenene Murray, said MDAS would reconvene the meeting and re-run the director elections on February 14.<\/p>\n
“There were also reports of conduct during the meeting that interfered with and disrupted the orderly running of the AGM,” Ms Murray and MDAS said in statements.<\/p>\n
“This does not mean that any particular outcome was wrong, or that the same directors could not be elected again,” Ms Murray said.<\/p>\n
“Rather, it means that the process itself needs to be re-run in a clear, calm and constitutionally compliant way.”<\/p>\n
Some members contend the votes for director roles were valid, and the company secretary oversaw the process as a returning officer.<\/p>\n
MDAS is one of 34 Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations across Victoria tasked with providing health and social services to First Nations people.<\/p>\n
The situation has led peak body Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) to confirm it will be at the re-run AGM on February 14.<\/p>\n
Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission records show MDAS Limited is overdue on reporting its 2024 financials and is due to present its 2025 documents next month.<\/p>\n
Whistleblower questions termination<\/p>\n
Sharon Johnson, a former MDAS board member who led a protest outside its Madden Avenue, Mildura, headquarters this month, said the region’s Aboriginal community had raised concerns with her about the way the organisation was being run.<\/p>\n
The MDAS board revoked Ms Johnson’s membership for bringing the organisation into disrepute.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sharon Johnson had her membership of MDAS revoked. (ABC News: Tyrone Dalton)<\/p>\n
A letter from the company secretary to Ms Johnson on October 29 stated the board had “unanimously” decided to expel Ms Johnson as a member of the organisation.<\/p>\n
“My membership was removed or revoked, not by choice. It was forced on me because of my involvement in supporting the community,” Ms Johnson said.<\/p>\n
“A number of us got together and talked about how we might as a community \u2026 come together and support each other to try and utilise the rule book, the Corporations Act, to seek some answers.”<\/p>\n
MDAS said it followed the proper process when its board revoked Ms Johnson’s membership.<\/p>\n