NAAJA says police have ‘cleared’ Colleen Rosas of Priscilla Atkins’ allegations

The NT’s largest legal aid organisation says police have finalised their investigation into criminal allegations against the agency’s chairwoman Colleen Rosas.

NAAJA has categorically refuted allegations against its chairwoman Colleen Rosas.

The Territory’s biggest legal aid organisation says its chairwoman has been “cleared” of any criminal conduct amid a bitter dispute with the agency’s chief executive.

North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency CEO Priscilla Atkins is suing her employer in the Federal Court, claiming NAAJA chairwoman Colleen Rosas received kickbacks from chief financial officer Madhur Evans.

She also claimed in court documents that Ms Evans disclosed NAAJA’s confidential information, entered into “significant” unauthorised transactions and accessed Ms Atkins’ work computer “after-hours, without Ms Atkins’ permission”.

NAAJA later suspended Ms Atkins after alleging she had forged Ms Rosas’ signature on a contract extension, which Ms Atkins denies.

On Monday, a spokeswoman for the agency said it had been advised by NT Police that Ms Atkins’ allegations “have not been substantiated” following an investigation.

“NT Police have cleared the chairperson and board members of any criminal conduct,” she said.

“Investigators are still assessing the allegations made against the chief financial officer

Madhur Evans but have not found any evidence of criminal conduct at this stage of the

investigation.”

The spokeswoman said police were “yet to finalise their investigation into other allegations raised by NAAJA” as a result of an audit by BDO Australia.

“NAAJA again calls on NT Police and the AFP to take immediate steps to conclude their

respective investigations as a matter of urgency,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Australian newspaper has reported Jacinta Nampijinpa Price intervened in the ongoing crisis, writing to Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Indigenous Affairs minister Linda Burney last week.

The letter, co-signed by opposition legal affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash raised new allegations that NAAJA employees were “self-harming” and “are stressed to the point that they are unable to provide appropriate services to clients”.

“It is alleged that a significant number of NAAJA employees have resigned over recent months and that the agency now faces multiple compensation claims for injuries related to its workplace culture,” the letter, obtained by The Australian, reads.

“These matters are said to be causally linked with the current administration of NAAJA. We do not express a view one way or the other on the veracity of the allegations.

“However, the allegations are very serious and, if true, go directly to the safety of employees.”

NAAJA has been contacted for a response to Senator Price’s letter.

NAAJA responds to CEO dispute allegations, refers probe to police

The Territory’s largest legal aid organisation has responded to allegations of “improper conduct” amid a bitter dispute with its chief executive officer Priscilla Atkins.

Ms Atkins has claimed in documents filed with the Federal Court that North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency chairwoman Colleen Rosas received kickbacks from chief financial officer Madhur Evans.

She also claimed Ms Evans disclosed NAAJA’s confidential information, entered into “significant” unauthorised transactions and accessed Ms Atkins’ work computer “after-hours, without Ms Atkins’ permission”.

NAAJA later suspended Ms Atkins after alleging she had forged Ms Rosas’ signature on a contract extension.

On Wednesday a NAAJA spokeswoman said the organisation’s board “categorically refutes these allegations” against it after initiating two separate independent investigations in November.

“The first independent investigation was an audit of finance, credit card use and other undisclosed arrangements that were not authorised by the NAAJA board,” she said.

The spokeswoman said the findings of that investigation by BDO Australia were lodged with NT Police in February and NAAJA was continuing to assist with their investigations.

NAAJA chief executive Priscilla Atkins is locked in a legal dispute with the legal aid agency. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

She said the findings were also lodged with the AFP, with NAAJA awaiting advice on the progress of its investigation.

“The second independent investigation was an organisational review of corporate governance, maturity and the effectiveness of functional business unit systems and processes within NAAJA,” the spokeswoman said.

She said the second investigation was conducted by KPMG and finalised in January, with all recommendations for improvement accepted and endorsed by the NAAJA board.

“NAAJA has commenced implementing key recommendations of the KPMG independent investigation with a focus on strengthening governance, systems, and operations,” she said.

“The NAAJA board is committed to ensuring that NAAJA continues to deliver quality services to its clients and community.

“NAAJA calls on NT Police and the AFP to take immediate steps to conclude their respective

investigations as a matter of urgency.”

The case returns to the Federal Court in Darwin next month.

Originally published as NAAJA says police have ‘cleared’ Colleen Rosas of Priscilla Atkins’ allegations