Davenport Community

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:15): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs about the Davenport community.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Davenport, the small Indigenous settlement in Port Augusta, has been plagued with controversy since the Davenport Community Council, which managed the community, was placed into administration. The community is in a sad state of disrepair, with many of the common facilities, including the community centre, trashed and vandalised. Crime is out of control, with allegations elderly members are being abused, threatened and attacked.

I previously asked the minister whether he could provide reasons for the settlement being placed into administration by the Aboriginal Lands Trust, and I did not receive an adequate response at that time. I also asked the minister to confirm whether the former Aboriginal Lands Trust CEO engaged a law firm to investigate the alleged misappropriation and theft of expensive heavy machinery and vehicles, and whether anyone was ever charged.

At the time, the minister said he was unaware if that was so and would check and get back to the chamber if there was one. I am still waiting. I am now informed things have become worse. My questions to the minister are:

1. Can you confirm the administrators have now placed the Davenport community into liquidation?

2. If so, when, and what are the reasons for the liquidation?

3. Was any evidence of misappropriation, fraud and other misconduct uncovered during the administration?

4. If so, will action be taken to hold the offenders to account?

5. Is the government going to provide even more funding to guarantee the long-term future of the residents of Davenport, given it is now in liquidation?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:17): I thank the honourable member for his question and I note his interest in this matter. For the honourable member's benefit, I just correct some of the ways that the honourable member described the situation at Davenport. I accept it is not deliberately misleading, but it is not accurate to describe some of what has been happening at Davenport.

It would have been certainly before this term of government—I think about 2021—I think under section 45 of the Aboriginal Lands Trust Act, that Davenport had a community manager placed to manage the community. It is not an administrator or placed into administration or liquidation; it is appointment of a community manager. That occurred for Davenport Community Council Incorporated (DCCI). I can't remember the exact amount of time. It might have been 12 months; it might have been a little bit more that a community manager was appointed before the community manager finished and the DCCI was again in charge of the Davenport community.

There hasn't been an administrator who has handed it over to someone else. There was a community manager appointed under the Aboriginal Lands Trust Act section 45. That stayed in place for some time in recent history, within the last couple of years, before the community manager finished their role.

I have been informed that on 15 October, two days ago, the Corporate Affairs Commission served the DCCI (Davenport Community Council Incorporated) a notice of proceedings before the Supreme Court under section 41 of the Associations Incorporation Act. My understanding, from the information that I have, is that that basis for non-compliance with the act includes failure of council to lodge its financial reports, failure to table audited financial reports or to hold its AGM. I am also aware that the commission has sought appointment of a liquidator to effect the winding up of DCCI.