Indigenous organisation may be forced to shut

An advocacy group representing 180 indigenous organisations is in voluntary administration.

National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples co-chairman Rod Little. Picture: John Feder

An advocate for more than 180 indigenous organisations across Australia is in voluntary administration, six years after then prime minister Tony Abbott cut its funding.

The National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples is hoping for a lifeline from Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt.

In a statement yesterday, the congress’s co-chairman, Rod Little, said that without new federal funding, it would close.

“This will leave Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples without a strong united voice,” he said.

Administrator Alan Walker, of insolvency firm Cor Cordis, is due to meet Mr Wyatt today.

“Since 2008, the Congress has relied almost solely on funding from the federal government which has been directed at key programs to benefit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders,” Mr Walker said.

A first meeting of creditors is scheduled for tomorrow in Sydney. The congress’s recent activities include establishing a national health leadership forum, work on the Closing the Gap campaign, and advocating for indigenous Australians on housing and health.

Last night, Mr Wyatt said his department would work with Cor Cordis through the administration period.

“I will work with all indigenous organisations on an outcomes basis to support self-determination, empowerment and representation for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians,” he said.