ALICE SPRINGS NEWS
December 11, 2008 to February 5, 2009: Online updates
during the summer recess of the paper editions.




[DEC 19, 2008]

CENTRECORP ANSWERS REVEAL LITTLE

David Ross, director of the Central Land Council (CLC) refused to provide answers to questions about the clandestine Aboriginal investment company, Centrecorp, that he had taken on notice during Senate Estimates hearings in October.
During the hearings Shadow Attorney General George Brandis pointed out that the CLC has a controlling 60% shareholding in Centrecorp, reported to be controlling assets worth $100m.
The CLC is an agency of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, for which Indigenous Affairs Minster Jenny Macklin is responsible.
However, Mr Ross replied "all inquiries about distributions made by Centrecorp pursuant to a trust deed should be directed to that entity", or gave a similar answer, to the following questions by Senator Brandis:-
• Is it not the case that Centrecorp is the owner of units in the CAAMV unit trust that in turn holds a 50% interest in the Peter Kittle Motor Co along with a 50% interest owned by another company, Yambah Pty Ltd, which is Mr Peter Kittle’s own company?
• Has Centrecorp made any distributions according to its charitable trust deed for the benefit of Aboriginal people in the Central Australia region? If so, when, what were the amounts and to whom were the distributions made?
• Is it the case that the capital that Centrecorp has used in order to acquire this large asset portfolio was seed funded from royalties paid by mining companies and other commercial entities with obligations to the central Australian Aboriginal people under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act or other relevant Commonwealth and Northern Territory statutes?
Mr Ross replied "no transfer payments have been made from the CLC to Centrecorp or from Centrecorp to the CLC" to the following question by Senator Brandis: "Can you tell me whether any other transfer payments have been made either from the CLC to Centrecorp or from Centrecorp to the CLC in the way of administration fees, royalties, or payments of any other character? If so, what, how much and when?"
Mr Ross' responses to questions from NT Senator Nigel Scullion were similarly unrevealing:-
Senator Scullion: Does the Central Land Council, CLC, administer the distribution of mining royalty payments to affected traditional owners? What is the formula or mechanism used to determine an individual’s royalty entitlement?
Mr Ross: The CLC does administer the distribution of mining royalty payments. It distributes mining royalty payments in accordance with the agreements made pursuant to section 46 of the Land Rights Act. The recipient associations determine how the associations’ funds are applied.
Senator Scullion: How are traditional owners informed of this formula or mechanism? When and how are traditional owners informed of the value of their royalty payment that they are to receive? How are royalty payments paid?
Mr Ross: Traditional landowners receive information about payments at general meetings of the recipient association of which they are a member. Royalty payments are made to the recipient associations by electronic funds transfer to the nominated bank account.
Senator Scullion: Does the CLC charge a fee or withhold any money from the traditional owner’s royalties for the purpose of administering the payment?
Mr Ross: The CLC does not withhold any monies from royalties payable to traditional landowners.
Associations that receive royalty distributions from the CLC may engage the CLC to provide services to the association, in which case an agreed fee will be charged to the association.
Senator Scullion: Does the CLC administer or disperse any royalty receipts for payment to other Aboriginal associations, communities or groups in the Northern Territory.
Mr Ross: All royalties received by the CLC are paid to associations.
Senator Scullion: What are the eligibility criteria for funding? What is the process for applying for and approving funding?
Mr Ross: The CLC does not accept applications for funding.
Senator Scullion: How are traditional owners informed of any payments made?
Mr Ross: As far as the CLC is aware, the traditional owners are informed by the recipient association of any payments made.
Senator Scullion: Does the CLC charge a fee or withhold any money from these receipts for the purpose of administering payment?
Mr Ross: The CLC does not charge a fee or withhold any money from mining royalty recipients for the purpose of administering payment.


ALICE NATIVE TITLE BODY TO BECOME LAND DEVELOPER

The Alice Springs native title body Lhere Artepe will get about half of the 14 hectares of land being developed for around 80 residential blocks in Mt Johns Valley, between the Golfcourse Estate and the MacDonnell Range.
Karl Hampton, Minister for Regional Development, says the Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) signed about the site this week also gives Lhere Artepe the right to purchase a development lease at market value over the second half of the area.
Lhere Artepe chief executive Darryl Pearce said the signing of the ILUA is a clear message that Lhere Artepe is committed to the development of Alice Springs and is an indication of the strength of the working relationship between the NT Government and Lhere Artepe.
“Lhere Artepe will undertake the development of the lots in its own right - a first for Alice Springs - and a real opportunity for us to invest in our own country,” Mr Pearce said.
Mr Hampton said the lots will come online within the next 18 months "to meet the demands of our growing population.
“About 70% of the lots will be single dwelling and the rest will be multi-dwelling.
“The ILUA requires Lhere Artepe to provide significant Indigenous employment and training opportunities and the construction of new residential lots will further stimulate Alice Springs’ growing economy."
“The signing follows the successful release of 79 lots as part of the Larapinta development.”


[DEC 15, 2008]

JOURNALISTS' UNION TAKES ON POWER & WATER CORPORATION

The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, which represents more than 10,000 journalists across Australia, has told the Power and Water Corporation (P&W) it is concerned that the NT Government owned instrumentality will not deal with the Alice Springs News.
Christopher Warren, Federal Secretary of the Alliance, told P&W chairman Neil Philip he "understands no reasons have been given to the newspaper for this refusal to respond to legitimate media questions raised on behalf of the community.
"For more than 15 years this weekly news publication has carried stories on the Corporation as a service to its readership.
"In doing so, the Alice Springs News has fulfilled a vital role in a functioning democracy by scrutinising the activities of a government-owned utility and reporting on the Corporation to its stakeholders in the Alice Springs community.  
"The news and information published by the newspaper, and also made available online, goes to the very heart of the Corporation’s activities and is part of responsible journalism practice.
"For the Corporation to determine it will 'no longer deal with' the Alice Springs News is an attack on the public’s right to know and, hence, undermines freedom of expression.
"At the very least, such an attitude is counter-productive," says Mr Warren.
"The Alice Springs News believes it has always operated fairly and comprehensively in its reporting of the Corporation.
"It continues to seek comment from the Corporation in order to achieve balance and to offer a right of reply.
"The decision of the Corporation to meet requests for comments with silence is short-sighted in the extreme.
"I hope that the Corporation – beginning with its board of directors and on through its management – will review this policy of refusing to deal with the newspaper and will act responsibly by making itself accessible to media inquiries.
"Such a move would be an important part of its operation as an open and transparent organisation in the best interests of the local community."




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