Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation temporarily shut down amid ‘violent incidents and internal chaos’
Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation has closed its office after violent incidents, threats, and board infighting sparked a police response and safety review.
A major Aboriginal corporation that receives millions of dollars in taxpayer funding has been temporarily shut down due to “violent incidents and threats” that resulted in police being called this week and trespass notices issued.
The Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation, which proclaims to be “dedicated to the advancement of Aboriginal communities”, has been forced to temporarily close its front office, with staff ordered to work remotely until a workplace safety review has been completed after police were called to its Alice Springs headquarters on Wednesday.
The corporation, which is responsible for providing critical community services to marginalised Aboriginal Australians, has suffered significant infighting between directors, management and other stakeholders, with multiple sources saying it has been “in chaos” for years.
On Wednesday, one man was served a trespass notice by police in relation to the Alice Springs headquarters and another is expected to be given a similar notice in coming days, with sources close to them alleging there are disputes at the corporation involving the alleged misappropriation of funds and disputes between directors, with one of the men – a director – claiming to have been excluded from meetings.
Acting chief executive Jane Ndove told The Australian on Friday that since November there had been physical threats, break-ins and the threatening of staff and board members, resulting in the temporary shutdown.
“(The two men in question) are not happy because they’re not getting what they want, the board has been doing really good work in a short space of six months, a lot of things have changed and improved,” Ms Ndove said.
“We’ve acquired more funding because of those good improvements and the strong governance that the new board has.”
In a statement, police said one man had been served a trespass notice, and a second man, who police say “was identified as having made historical threats to the organisation”, was expected to be served a similar notice.
“On Wednesday around 11am, police responded to reports of disturbance occurring at an non-government organisation on Gap Road,” a police spokesman said.
“Upon police arrival, it was reported that a 54-year-old male, known to the organisation, was at the premises and making threats to employees at the location.
“The matter was de-escalated, and the male is expected to be served with a trespass notice.”
No charges have been laid.
According to an email sent to stakeholders and seen by The Australian, the organisation’s headquarters has been temporarily shut down “in the interest of ensuring the immediate safety and wellbeing” of staff.
“I am writing to inform you that Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation has temporarily closed its front office due to escalating safety concerns following a series of violent incidents and threats directed at corporate staff and board members,” Ms Ndove said.
“This decision was made in the interest of ensuring the immediate safety and wellbeing of our personnel. We are treating this matter with the seriousness it warrants and are working closely with relevant authorities to manage the risks.”
The email said critical community services “will continue as scheduled”, but sources questioned how programs would be able to continue and urged the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations to intervene.
“How do you deliver programs from a workplace that is shut because there is violence to such a level that staff are not safe?” a source said.
“If staff are not safe on the premises, how are they safe on the street doing the services they’re meant to be delivering?
“There’s been issues of people on the committee, issues go on and aren’t addressed, and as a result these sorts of behaviours continue to escalate.”
The Australian revealed last year then chair and traditional owner Benedict Stevens was convicted for beating his long-term partner in an alcohol-fuelled assault in which he struck his partner in the head with a traditional Aboriginal foraging tool and left a large gash.
Acting board chair Kirsty Bloomfield did not respond to numerous requests for comment.
More Coverage
Labor triumphs in Bullwinkel
Bullwinkel was notionally Labor-held but both sides had privately expected it to fall to the Liberals, given it took in areas directly impacted by the Albanese government’s ban on live sheep exports.
‘Dog’ act: Noel Pearson unleashes on all sides
Noel Pearson has broken his long silence since the defeat of the Indigenous voice with an excoriating critique of both Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton.