National Congress of Australia's First Peoples

The National Congress of Australia's First Peoples was the national representative body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. The Congress was announced in November 2009[1] and set up as a limited company. Its co-chairs were Dr Jackie Huggins and Rod Little. It was registered as a charity in December 2012,[2] but in June 2019 went into voluntary administration and the co-chairs stood down.[3]

National Congress of Australia's First Peoples
TypePublic company limited by guarantee; charitable status
Founded2010
Key people
Dr Jackie Huggins (Co-chair)
Rod Little(Co-chair)

Corporate structure

The Congress was a Public Company limited by guarantee.[4][5]

The first National Congress meeting of 120 delegates was held in June 2011. Chambers 1 and 2 held elections for their 40 delegates. Organisations that are members of those chambers had the right to vote for these delegates. Individual Congress Members nominating to be in Chamber 3 were assessed against criteria by both the Ethics Council and the National Board. Gender parity and adequate representation of the membership were included as part of the process to pick the 40 members for this chamber.

The Board was supported by an Ethics Council – a special body of experts who provide independent advice on standards and guidelines.

Reception

Australian Human Rights Commissioner Mick Gooda welcomed the formation as a milestone moment for Indigenous Australians.[6] Northern Land Council CEO Kim Hill also welcomed the formation of the Congress.[7] Aboriginal activist Noel Pearson criticised the Congress as "a blackfella's wailing wall".[4] Australian conservative journalist and political commentator Andrew Bolt described the Congress as funding "professional Aborigines" instead of Aboriginal people "you imagine your taxes helping".[8]

Little was a director from 2011, taking on the co-chair role in 2015. He was an elected member of the Australian Capital Territory Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, and participated in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Advisory group.

In 2013 the Australian government withdrew funding of the Congress.[9]

2019 closure

The Congress was forced out of operation in July 2019 after its reserves had been exhausted, since the Abbott government withdrew funding in 2013. At that time the company had about 10,000 members and 180 affiliated community organisations.[10]

Ken Wyatt, the recently appointed Minister for Indigenous Australians in the Morrison government, made a decision not to revive the organisation. The 2017 financial report had shown that the company had a deficit of about A$487,000 .[10]

See also

References
  1. "2009 Media Release: New National Congress of Australia's First Peoples announced". Australian Human Rights Commission. 22 November 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  2. "National Congress Of Australia's First Peoples Ltd: History". Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  3. Wellington, Shahni (24 July 2019). "Exclusive: Co-chairs stood down amidst funding turmoil for Congress". NITV. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  4. Jopson, Debra (3 May 2010). "New indigenous 'company' structured to keep politicians at arm's length". The Age. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  5. "ASIC Free Company Name Search: NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AUSTRALIA'S FIRST PEOPLES LIMITED". Australian Securities and Investments Commission. 19 April 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  6. Gooda, Mick (2 May 2010). "2010 Media Release: First National Executive is a milestone moment for Indigenous Australians". Australian Human Rights Commission. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  7. "National Congress of Australia's First Peoples" (PDF). Northern Land Council. 4 May 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  8. Andrew Bolt (3 May 2010). "How representative are they of the Aborigines who need our help?". Herald Sun. News Limited. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  9. Lorena Allam (12 June 2019). "Dodson, Burney call for government to fund National Congress of Australia's First Peoples". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  10. Morgan, Cassandra (17 October 2019). "National Congress of Australia's First Peoples' closure a step back for Aboriginal people: Rod Little". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 3 August 2020.


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