Anthony Mundine urges Anthony Albanese, Linda Burney to stamp out ‘black cladding’

Anthony Mundine wants an end to the ‘black cladding’ of companies which aren’t genuinely Aboriginal, and for a crackdown on people claiming to be Indigenous. Here’s why.

Anthony Mundine has urged the Albanese government to knock out “black cladding” so genuine Aboriginal businesses have a fair shot at winning work under Indigenous procurement policies.

The former boxing and rugby league star, who now majority-owns an Indigenous building company, also called for a crackdown on people claiming to be Aboriginal – a plea backed by the head of the First Australians Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Mundine told The Daily Telegraph that black cladding – where a company uses an Aboriginal person simply as a figurehead to secure lucrative taxpayer-funded contracts under Indigenous procurement policies – had become “very common”.

“We have to do everything we can to stop it because it’s not authentic,” he told The Daily Telegraph. “They don’t want social outcomes. It’s just tick and flick.”

Mundine, who won multiple middleweight world titles after playing State of Origin for NSW, said black cladding had led to his business missing out on jobs.

Anthony Mundine says black cladding must be stamped out. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“Not just mine, but all the other ones that are doing it right are missing out too,” he said.

Currently a business can be officially registered as indigenous if it is half Aboriginal-owned.

“Most ain’t doing the right thing,” Mundine said.

“Most are just in it for the money. People know me bro. I made my money. It’s not about money to me. Obviously we are running a business. If you are doing the work, you’ve got to make money.”

“But money is not the number-one goal for me.”

“My goal is to have social outcomes and job opportunities for the mob. Doing all the right things for the people. Uplifting the people and upskilling them to be bosses for themselves against us in the future. That’s the legacy I want to leave,” he said.

Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney. Picture: Martin Ollman

The Telegraph recently revealed Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney wants to apply a stricter test – being at least 51 per cent Aboriginal-owned, controlled and managed – to be eligible for billions of dollars of government tenders issued under indigenous procurement policies.

Mundine’s minority business partner in MGM Building Maintenance, Gosh Daher, said the pair would travel to Dubbo on Wednesday for further discussions about their company’s involvement in a new $220 million bridge in the regional centre.

Gosh Daher and Anthony Mundine in Redfern on Tuesday. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

MGM will provide concrete barriers painted by Aboriginal artists, as well as asphalting and traffic control.

Mr Daher said “our vision is to build capability,” working with companies including Albergeldie, Ertech and JK Williams.

Mundine said the black-cladding crackdown should include tougher standards for claiming to be Aboriginal.

First Australians Chamber of Commerce and Industry chair Deb Barwick agreed.

First Australians Chamber of Commerce and Industry chair Deb Barwick. Picture: Supplied

The solution was straightforward, the businesswoman said.

“Don’t accept stat decs” as proof of Aboriginality, Ms Barwick told The Telegraph. Confirmation should instead come via a land council, medical service or the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

She applauded the move to tighten the eligibility test under indigenous procurement policies.

At the moment the system was “being exploited.” Requiring majority ownership, control and management “would put Aboriginal people back in the driver’s seat in business,” Ms Barwick said.

Originally published as Anthony Mundine urges Anthony Albanese, Linda Burney to stamp out ‘black cladding’