North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency reaches settlement with Priscilla Atkins for unfair dismissal

The former boss of the Territory’s largest legal agency has walked away with a secret payout — believed to be in excess of $1m — two years after her unlawful sacking.

North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency has confirmed it had reached an undisclosed settlement with its former chief executive, Priscilla Atkins.Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The former boss of the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency has walked away with an undisclosed payout following a major unfair dismissal battle.

On Monday NAAJA confirmed it had reached an undisclosed settlement with its former chief executive, Priscilla Atkins.

Ms Atkins was at the helm of the Territory’s largest legal agency for 15 years before being unlawfully terminated in February 2023.

As part of the settlement, Ms Atkins has formally resigned from her role, as of Friday.

NAAJA said the terms of the settlement — including Ms Atkin’s payout — were confidential, and both parties have agreed not to make any further comment.

However in a Federal Court hearing in December, NAAJA confirmed its offer of $1.5m had been rejected by Ms Atkins.

Justice Natalie Charlesworth heard that Ms Atkins was seeking the remainder of her contract and her entire five-year salary as a payout — estimated to be in excess of $1.73m.

North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency chief executive Priscilla Atkins leaving her Fair Work Federal Court compensation hearing on December 9, 2024. Picture: Zizi Averill

In an affidavit the current acting chief executive Anthony Beven warned that even NAAJA’s own offer could risk plunging the legal service into “insolvency”.

During the unfair dismissal case Ms Atkins alleged a target was put on her back after she raised allegations against NAAJA’s chief financial officer with the board.

Rather than respond to her concerns, the NAAJA board chair accused Ms Atkins of forging her signature on her salary increase and altering board minutes.

Federal court Justice Natalie Charlesworth.

Ms Atkins was suspended and later sacked in early 2023.

In June last year Justice Charlesworth said her dismissal breached the Fair Work Act.

She said the ‘evidence’ used against Ms Atkins to fire her was “dubious”, “implausible” and “startling and unconvincing in equal measure”.

NAAJA released its apology “without reservation” to Ms Atkins in November.

The fallout of Ms Atkin’s dismissal has resulted in NAAJA having to redraft its constitution, elect new member directors and appoint independent directors, and put in place new finance and human resource systems.

The legal agency has also appointed a new chief financial officer and human resources manager, while the NAAJA board has been completely replaced.

New NAAJA chair Theresa Roe said she was pleased the settlement would allow both NAAJA and Ms Atkins to “move forward” Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

New chair Theresa Roe said she was pleased the settlement would allow both NAAJA and Ms Atkins to “move forward”.

‘While the legal process has been difficult, we believe the settlement provides a constructive resolution for all involved.’

Two years — and six acting NAAJA chief executives later — the legal service is now looking to recruit its new boss.