First Nations leaders demand investigation after claims ACT public servants blocked Closing the Gap commitments

First Nations community leaders are demanding a formal investigation into allegations that senior ACT public servants intentionally blocked work on the government’s commitments to Indigenous people and ignored serious concerns about the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.

The allegations were made by Brendan Moyle – a Kamilaroi/Gomeroi man who served as executive branch manager of the ACT Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs before resigning in November 2025. His concerns came to light through a freedom of information request lodged by independent MLA Thomas Emerson.

The FOI documents reveal Mr Moyle had raised significant concerns internally for more than two years before his departure. In September 2025 he wrote a 13-page brief laying out issues including a lack of cultural capability and cultural safety, insufficient resourcing, refusals to provide data required to report on government commitments and structural barriers and behaviours that he described as intentionally blocking key bodies of work.

Mr Moyle also raised alarm about the impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff in his team who were facing increasing reports of physical, mental and psychosocial stress.

Local First Nations leader Joe Hedger said what had been described was unfortunately not surprising for those who have worked closely with government.

“First Nations public servants are often asked to provide cultural advice and community insight, yet too often that advice is questioned, diluted or ignored by senior decision-makers” Mr Hedger said.

“You cannot expect better outcomes for First Nations people if the voices of First Nations professionals inside government continue to be ignored” he said.

Former ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body chair Tanya Keed said she had felt voiceless when engaging with the ACT Government despite being a democratically elected representative.

“I felt like my voice and contributions were fading to where it was extremely isolating and meaningless” Ms Keed said. “When people think of racism they think of the colour of skin, but racism also lies deep within policies and practices.”

Former ATSIEB deputy chair Paula McGrady said the most frustrating part was the time lost on government commitments under the ACT Agreement which ends in 2028.

“We are the experts on our lives and we want to close the gap more than anyone. We can no longer just be advising; we have to be the decision-makers” Ms McGrady said.

Mr Emerson has called on the Chief Minister to launch a formal investigation with public findings and appropriate consequences. He said the matter could be referred to the Integrity Commission, the ACT Ombudsman or the Public Sector Standards Commissioner.

“Faced with allegations that senior public servants have operated in ways that are completely contrary to the terms of that agreement, I’m struggling to understand why the Chief Minister hasn’t already asked the Integrity Commission or ACT Ombudsman to investigate this matter” Mr Emerson said.

Canberra Liberals leader Mark Parton said the allegations were serious and the party was open to examining whether an independent inquiry is warranted.

Public Service Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith described the issues as deeply concerning and being taken seriously. Head of Service Kathy Leigh and ATSIEB chair Maurice Walker wrote to public servants acknowledging that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff often carry heightened cultural load and emotional strain.

The revelations have raised broader questions about whether systemic racism within government institutions is undermining Closing the Gap commitments across the country – not just in the ACT.