BIDYADANGA COUNCIL MEMBER RAISES GOVERNANCE CONCERNS AFTER MEETING EXCLUSION
BY TANGIORA HINAKI
A Bidyadanga council member says she was excluded from a recent meeting of the Lagrange Aboriginal Corporation and is raising concerns about governance, communication, and transparency within the organisation.
Shirley Ann Spratt, who was appointed to the council at the corporation’s annual general meeting two to three weeks ago, said she was not notified of a meeting held earlier this week, despite other council members attending.
Ms Spratt told Ngaarda Media she only became aware of the meeting after hearing about it from another community member.
She said she went to the corporation’s office and found the meeting already underway, with no prior notice or agenda provided to her or another newly appointed representative.
“Two of us were elected at the AGM, but we weren’t invited,” she said.
“We should have been told. We’re on the board.”
Ms Spratt said she raised the issue with the corporation’s Chief Executive Officer, Tanya Baxter, but did not receive an explanation.
She believes poor communication within the organisation is contributing to tension between different tribal groups in the community.
She has also questioned the corporation’s financial transparency, saying members are often provided with verbal updates rather than written reports.
“People are struggling to understand what’s being presented,” she said.
“A lot of our Elders need things written down so they can properly follow what’s going on.”
Ms Spratt also raised concerns about the corporation’s history of being placed into administration and questioned how community assets are currently being used.
She said a facility previously used as an aged-care centre is now being used for staff accommodation, rather than supporting older community members who wish to remain in Bidyadanga.
She said the previous council representative experienced similar issues and believes other tribal groups may raise their own concerns in the coming weeks.
In a statement to Ngaarda Media, Lagrange Aboriginal Corporation said community views vary and that a formal process exists for raising concerns.
“The communities are as varied and diverse as larger population centres, for individuals with a wide range of opinions,” the statement said.
“Our organisation has a process for individuals to raise their concerns, and we invite all members to utilise this process.”
Listen to Ngaarda Media’s Tangiora Hinaki speak with Shirley Ann Spratt: