NAAJA chief executive Priscilla Atkins in bid to raise $60k to fight ‘witch hunt’ legal battle

The CEO of the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency has turned to the public in a bid to fund her “David and Goliath” legal battle against the provider. But months after it began, the target of $60k is still yet to be met.

North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency chief executive Priscilla Atkins leaves the Federal Court in Darwin last year. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Priscilla Atkins is appealing for public help to raise $60,000 to fund her “David and Goliath” legal battle with the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency.

The NAAJA chief executive is suing the Aboriginal legal aid provider in the Federal Court in a bid to reverse its board’s decision to terminate her employment in late 2022.

In a GoFundMe appeal set up in November last year, Ms Atkins describes herself as an Eastern Arrernte grandmother of 23 who has been the victim of a “witch hunt” by the Territory’s largest legal aid agency.

“I have been the chief executive officer of the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency and worked hard for the past 15 years to ensure Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory have access to justice,” she wrote.

“During my 15 years as CEO, I implemented a number of initiatives which significantly benefited Aboriginal people, this is something I am very proud of.

“Suddenly on the 15th of November 2022 my reputation, career and health were taken away from me overnight – I believe because I exercised my workplace right to make a workplace complaint in which I raised allegations of misconduct.”

NAAJA CEO Priscilla Atkins (far right) describes herself as an Aboriginal grandmother in ‘a David and Goliath battle’ with her employer.

Ms Atkins claims that instead of investigating her complaint, NAAJA “began a witch hunt to try and find wrongdoing by me” and she “had no choice but to commence legal proceedings”.

“I am putting up this fight for injustice in the workplace for everyone who has been treated unfairly,” she wrote.

“I don’t want anyone to go through what I have had to endure over the past 12 months.

“I am standing up for all those people who have experienced injustice in the workplace.

“Everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity, respect and provided with an adequate explanation for decisions being made about them and their employment.”

Ms Atkins said the donations would help cover her legal fees but the fundraiser had netted less than $7000 of the $60,000 goal by mid-January.

“My legal case is for everyone out there who has been treated badly by their employers and were innocent,” she wrote.

Justice Natalie Charlesworth has reserved her decision in the Federal Court case after hearing final submissions in December while a NAAJA spokeswoman said in a statement the agency’s chief financial officer Madhur Evans had been cleared by police of any criminal wrongdoing.