Governments ignore warnings about non-Aboriginals abusing the system

Indigenous leaders say state and federal governments have failed to address their warnings about people ‘self-identifying’ as Aboriginal to receive government benefits.

State and federal governments have been accused of ignoring warnings about widespread Aboriginal fraud, with claims a large percentage of the population is “self-identifying” without verifying their Indigenous ancestry.

Nathan Moran, CEO of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (MLALC), has written several times to David Harris, the NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and Linda Burney, who was until recently federal Minister for Indigenous Australians.

In an email dated May 22, Mr Moran warned both ministers he had “continuously received community complaints and grievances about non-Aboriginal abuse of Aboriginal programs, initiatives and projects such as employment, housing and university entry.”

In a separate note to Mr Harris and Ms Burney in July, Mr Moran claimed Aboriginal fraud was “rife” and was impacting “the effectiveness of government initiatives for Aboriginal people”.

“The continuing allowance for self-identification is not in anyone’s interest other than those with self and vested interest who do not wish to have quality assurance,” ” Mr Moran wrote. “The MLALC offers to assist and meet anyone to address this ASAP for effective and efficient use of public funds and to ensure … initiatives for Aboriginal people do not end in non-Aboriginal people’s hands or bank accounts

Nathan Moran, from the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, has written multiple letters to ministers warning of Aboriginal fraud. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Earlier this month Mr Moran received a response from the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) on Linda Burney’s behalf.

“I acknowledge your concerns about some individuals falsely claiming First Nations identity” the NIAA wrote.

“You would also appreciate that, for many people, proving Indigenous heritage can be difficult thanks to poor record-keeping.”

The NIAA then cited the Commonwealth’s three-part Aboriginal test, which is “widely accepted by government agencies”, although conceded “it is not legislated”.

“First Nations identity is a personal matter,” the agency wrote.

“An individual’s Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identity should be respected and the Australian government should not seek to interfere.”

Mr Moran says Aboriginal fraud is hurting the chances of closing the gap. Picture: Supplied

Mr Moran also recently received a response from Mr Harris, who outlined the current legislation and laws intended to protect Aboriginal people.

However, the NSW Minister has so far failed to meet with Mr Moran as requested.

“Mr Moran outlined his concerns in a letter recently received by my office. I have responded to this letter.” Mr Harris told The Saturday Telegraph.

However Mr Moran said: “We have extensive proof of fraud and would like to discuss this with Mr Harris.”

The Australian Bureau of Statistics shows the Indigenous population has risen from 548,370 in 2011 to 812,728 in 2021, an increase of roughly 33 per cent.

This data is gathered through the Census, which allows someone to “self-identify” by simply ticking YES or NO to the question: “is person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin?”

The ABS states that only 44 per cent of the increase in First Nations’ population numbers is due to births, deaths and migration. The remaining 56 per cent is due to “non-demographic factors”, including “changes in whether a person identifies as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin”.

Darkinjung Aboriginal Land Council chair Tina West says there is widespread fraud occurring. Picture: Supplied

Tina West, Chair of the Darkinjung Aboriginal Land Council, said: “We believe there is significant fraud occurring.

“People are just ticking a box to get benefits at school and in health. They are not meeting the definition of an Aboriginal person.

“In fact, they are born-again blacks.

“There has been an explosion in the Indigenous population which does not match our rates of births and deaths. It is diluting the Indigenous population and badly impacting the efforts to close the gap.”

Mr Moran added: “There is a very large chunk of people who identify as Aboriginal who haven’t been qualified as Aboriginal and have not satisfied the required three-part test.”

“Governments are trying to close the gap.” he said.

“The effectiveness of delivering programs is massively challenged when many people who are applying for help aren’t actually Aboriginal.

“It means the support doesn’t go those who genuinely need it.”

According to Treasury documents, NSW spends $1.2bn a year on “First Nations targeted services and programs”.

Federal Labor has also allocated $5.7 billion on initiatives for Indigenous people and communities since October.

Do you know more? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]

Originally published as Governments ignore warnings about non-Aboriginals abusing the system