Jacinta Price intervenes on NAAJA crisis

The NT senator has written to Linda Burney, urging her to act after allegations that employees of Australia’s largest Indigenous legal body are quitting in droves.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. Picture: Morgan Sette /NewsWire

NT Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has intervened in an ongoing crisis tearing apart Australia’s largest Indigenous legal body, following reports of employees allegedly self-harming and exiting the organisation in droves.

Senator Price, along with opposition legal affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash, wrote to Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Indigenous Affairs minister Linda Burney last week concerning reports in this masthead of corruption, fraud and bullying within the North Australia Aboriginal Justice Agency.

The letter concerned new allegations that NAAJA employees are “self-harming, and are stressed to the point that they are unable to provide appropriate services to clients.”

“It is alleged that a significant number of NAAJA employees have resigned over recent months, and that the agency now faces multiple compensation claims for injuries related to its workplace culture,” the letter, obtained by The Australian, reads.

“These matters are said to be causally linked with the current administration of NAAJA. We do not express a view one way or the other on the veracity of the allegations.

“However, the allegations are very serious and, if true, go directly to the safety of employees. Urgent action is required to provide assurance that the Commonwealth is not supporting arrangements that are harming employees, whether directly or indirectly.”

The letter continued: “We ask that you take steps to ensure that these matters are urgently investigated. If current administrative arrangements at the agency result in unacceptable risks to employee safety, we further ask that you intervene to take whatever steps are available to address those risks, including providing appropriate care and services to support staff.”

Senator Price’s intervention comes a week after the Auditor-General Grant Hehir was urged to probe the alleged misuse of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds within NAAJA, with Senator Cash pressing the Australian National Audit Office earlier this month to investigate the near-$20m provided to the agency every year.

“We note that NAAJA describes itself as ‘contracted by the Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department (AGD) to provide Criminal and Civil Law services to Aboriginal people and their families in the Northern Territory,” Senator Price and Senator Cash’s letter reads.

“We ask that you take into account the view that conduct within NAAJA may be seen as a reflection on the Commonwealth, and on the Attorney- General‘s portfolio in particular.”

The Australian over the past few months has revealed explosive allegations amongst senior staff members of NAAJA, two of whom currently employed.

The Australian understands the NT Independent Commission Against Corruption is investigating the allegations, many of which have come to light in a Federal Court case filed by ousted CEO Priscilla Atkins, who alleges she was fired from NAAJA after discovering the corrupt conduct of finance chief Madhur Evans and chairperson Colleen Rosas.

NAAJA Chair Colleen Rosas.

Ms Atkins claims Ms Rosas appointed her friends to senior positions within NAAJA, and requested her pay be given to her on a credit card so as not to alert the tax office and threaten her Centrelink pension.

Ms Atkins alleges Ms Evans made a discreet $20,000 payment to Ms Rosas, and left her mobile phone in offices to record unsuspecting colleagues, and bullied NAAJA workers.

NAAJA denies allegations that Ms Evans and Ms Rosas engaged in deceptive conduct, and claims Ms Atkins was fired for forging Ms Rosas’ signature on her contract extension document, securing her position as CEO – and its $350,000 salary – for a further five years.

NAAJA has also alleged Ms Atkins used company funds to buy nine vehicles, flights, clothes and artworks. Ms Atkins denies all allegations of misconduct.

Ms Rosas and Ms Evans continue to work for NAAJA.

The agency released a media statement on Friday claiming the NT Police had wrapped up investigations into allegations made by Ms Atkins against Ms Rosas and had found no wrongdoing.

“Investigators are still assessing the allegations made against the Chief Financial Officer Madhur Evans but have not found any evidence of criminal conduct at this stage of the investigation,” the statement reads.

“NAAJA again calls on NT Police and the AFP to take immediate steps to conclude their respective investigations as a matter of urgency.”

Ms Burney has been contacted for comment. Mr Dreyfus did not wish to make a statement.