Police raid offices of corporation steering $446m Kakadu plan

Police have raided the offices of the Aboriginal corporation steering the $446 million Kakadu redevelopment masterplan.

A $446 million memorandum of understanding between the federal and Territory governments, mining company Energy Resources of Australia and the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation aims to support Jabiru’s transition from the resources industry to serving as the gateway to Kakadu National Park.

POLICE have raided the offices of the Aboriginal corporation steering the $446 million Jabiru masterplan for the redevelopment of Kakadu National Park.

The officers were accompanied by investigators from the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations in a search of the offices of the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation on Wednesday.

On Thursday, ORIC registrar Selwyn Button confirmed an investigation was under way but said he could not reveal further details.

“There’s an active investigation,” he said.

“(Wednesday’s) activities involved staff from ORIC as well as NT Police going out to the office and gathering evidence to continue the investigation.

“We can’t give any details around the nature of the investigation except to say there is an investigation going on and we have executed a search warrant to get information.”

A spokesman for the corporation said it was unclear what the raid was about.

“GAC confirms that ORIC attended its offices and is fully co-operating with their inquires,” he said.

“At this time GAC does not know what is being investigated.”

An NT Police spokesman said officers were on site to assist with the warrant.

“NT Police attended the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation office in Jabiru on Wednesday to assist ORIC with the execution of a search warrant,” he said.

“Questions regarding any investigation should be directed to ORIC.”