Phil Brown steps down as acting NAAJA chief executive

Acting chief executive Phil Brown will not renew his contract at the embattled legal agency, as scandal and instability continue to grip the organisation’s upper management.

The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency has lost its fifth boss in 18 months as scandal and instability continue to grip the organisation’s upper management.

Acting chief executive Phil Brown has stepped down after just four months in the role.

A NAAJA spokeswoman said Mr Brown advised the board and the Attorney-General’s department of his decision not to renew his contract next month “due to family reasons”.

He is the nephew of NAAJA deputy chair Colleen Rosas, who last month was found by a federal court judge to have given “dubious” and “implausible” evidence under oath.

Judge Natalie Charlesworth found the board, under the leadership of then chair Ms Rosas, had unlawfully sacked chief executive Priscilla Atkins in January 2023.

Ms Rosas has denied any wrongdoing.

Last month it was also revealed current chair of the board Hugh Woodbury previously assaulted his pregnant partner, prompting Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney to say she was “deeply concerned” by the situation at the nation’s largest Aboriginal legal service.

The board has continued to support Mr Woodbury, saying it was aware of the 2020 incident when he was hired as chair in March this year, and that people who turn their lives around “deserve a second chance”.

Mr Woodbury was fined $200 and given a good behaviour bond without a conviction.

The NAAJA spokeswoman said Mr Brown intended to continue as acting chief until a replacement was appointed “to ensure that there is an orderly transition”.

“The board is going through a recruitment process to appoint a replacement acting CEO,” she said.

“Mr Brown has done a commendable job leading NAAJA and the board thanks him for his invaluable contribution.”

Originally published as Phil Brown steps down as acting NAAJA chief executive