The Minister of Indigenous Australians has given a one week deadline to the two organisations at loggerheads over the future of a much loved Redfern social enterprise, after up to 50 Aboriginal staff were told they would lose their jobs this week.
On Monday, the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) made the decision to close the National Indigenous Centre of Excellence's (NCIE) aquatic and fitness operations, giving staff 7 days notice and offering "small amounts" in severance payments and non-disclosure agreements to sign.
The ILSC officially divested the property to the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) on June 30, but maintained control of the NCIE Ltd.
NSWALC CEO Yuseph Deen said the ILSC approached them in April about taking over operations at the Centre, but a "historical analysis" showed it had been debt funded for years, and that the NSWALC could not cover the ongoing operational costs.
Discussions without community 'not appropriate'
Following days of outcry, Minister Burney showed up at the NCIE to speak with community, who have been gathering at the centre at 1pm daily.
Speaking to a crowd of hundreds, the Minister told the ILSC and the NSWALC to "get your act together."
"I am saying very clearly to the people who are making decisions about this place, you've got a week to sort it out," she said.
Ms Burney stressed that she wanted to see centre stay open, tenants whose services operate out of the centre given permanency, and most importantly, that people keep their jobs.
She also responded to concerns from community that they have not been adequately consulted or involved in ongoing discussions between the ILSC and NSWALC.
"The negotiations about the future of the aquatic and the gym have to have local people sitting at the table. It is not appropriate that this be sorted out by the ILSC and the Land Council," she said.
"You need to nominate 1 or 2 people to be involved."
Federal Minister Tanya Plibersek meeting with Aunty Beryl van Opoloo at the NCIE on Friday. Source: AAP
'She's knocking their heads together'
Federal Minister for the Environment and Member for Sydney Tanya Plibersek took to the stage, reiterating that the party was not saying there was no available funding to keep the centre operating.
"You're saying we can't find 3 million dollars, no one is saying that. Linda is going right now to do these negotiations to bring the ILSC and the NSWALC together," she said.
"She's the person trying to solve this right. She's not their boss. She's knocking their heads together to get a solution."
Following the meeting, Gomeroi and Wiradjuri woman Margaret Haumono, co-founder and CEO of non for profit Redfern Youth Connect told NITV News of her frustrations at the communication throughout the whole process.
"Weve gone full circle this conversation should have started when ILSC chose to divest to NSWALC," she said.
"I think it's time for a sitting, it's time for our voices to really be heard."
Ms Haumono had earlier given an address to the crowd, articulating her passion for the RYC and why she has been outspoken throughout the week.
"The reason I did a call to action through my Instagram was the ILSC CEO Joe Morrison came downstairs after I called him to come downstairs. As I said to Joe, and I’ve never disclosed this," she said.
‘[I said] What am I gunna do with my kids Joe?’ You know what his words were to me and he looked at me as an Aboriginal man to an Aboriginal woman – ‘Not my problem Margaret, that’s now your problem.”
In a statement to NITV News, Mr Morrison "unreservedly" apologised.
"I have contacted Margaret personally to extend this apology. I have explained that in the moment, I completely misunderstood the context of the question, and my comments reflect this misunderstanding," he said.
"Margaret and I have agreed we can move forward from here. I fully acknowledge Margaret’s wonderful contribution to the community through her work with young Aboriginal people and I have assured her I am committed to ensuring the program can continue.”
Redfern Youth Connect's Margaret Haumono says a community sit in is planned. Source: NITV: Emma Kellaway
ILSC apologises to staff while NSWALC 'disappointed' no resolution
NSWALC Chairman Danny Chapman said the organisation was "disappointed" they haven’t reached an agreement with the ILSC.
"We want this resolved as soon as possible, so we can focus on the next chapter for the site," he said in a statement.
NSWALC said it only considered taking on the business at the "end of April 2022" and the operations “were not original scope in the transfer.”
On December 10 last year, The ILSC announced it would commit to the divestment of the property to the NSWALC and it would "not operate services" from it.
It outlined that a review had been undertaken, and as a result the “accommodation and Blak impact service lines will be wound down” while all other services will “continue on an ongoing basis at this time, supported by NCIE corporate services.”
“The process of engaging new operators and transitioning services to them is underway,” it read.
“Along with the ILSC, NSWALC as the incoming landowner is committed to a transition of these services in a way that preserves staff employment where possible.”
The next media release provided by the ILSC was on 1 July 2022, outlining that the divestment was finalised. In response to questions by NITV News about the timeframe between the two, the ILSC replied:
ILSC CEO Joe Morrison has apologised to Redfern Youth Connect's Margaret Haumono for a comment on the day around 50 NCIE staff were fired. Source: Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation
"NSWALC had planned to secure a third party to operate the facilities and services at 180 George street. Given these negotiations were between NSWALC and a third-party, it would not have been appropriate for the ILSC or NCIE Ltd. to talk about the progress of these plans publicly," it said in a statemenet.
The ILSC was only recently advised that NSWALC was not able to secure this arrangement."
Then in April, the ILSC said it then commenced talks bout the transfer of NCIE Ltd. to the NSWALC.
"Unfortunately, despite the offer of transitional financial support, NSWALC determined that they would not take on the operations of NCIE Ltd," it said.
"As the ILSC no longer manages assets it has divested to Indigenous groups, it was decided NCIE Ltd. would be wound up, and once this decision was ratified by the NCIE Board, it was communicated to staff at the earliest opportunity.
"The ILSC has acknowledged this announcement came as a shock to staff and has apologised for any distress caused.
The NSWALC said it will consult with various community organisations and stakeholders and pending the "outcome" of further negotiations with the ILSC, prompted by Minister Burney.
The NCIE official website has been scaled down, and now only shows communications on behalf of the ILSC and NSWALC.
A petition to stop its forced closure has amassed almost 6000 signatures at the time of publication.
