Following an independent investigation (allegedly chosen and paid for by OLALC) that cleared itself, Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council, of alleged wrongdoing, concerns over procedural transparency have prompted the council to commit to reviewing and improving its processes.
Although the investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing, it highlighted key areas needing enhancement, specifically in transparency and the consistency of record-keeping.
However, community members (despite the cleared outcome) expressed ongoing concern about the transparency and openness of council activities – with Mr French acknowledged these concerns, stating:
“We had a number of members sign a petition saying that they felt there was a lack of transparency in the process of selecting [the reviewer]” he said.
“The findings came as no surprise … everyone knew what the outcome was going to be,”
He also said it should have been the regulator – the Registrar of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council, or a forensic auditor appointed to lead the review.
“It was a pointless review. If they really wanted [to properly review the OLALC], they would have appointed someone [independent],” he said.
The recommendations from the investigator include ensuring transparent decision-making processes and improving record-keeping standards to enhance accountability within the council.
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