Indigenous organisations to benefit from CATSI Act modernisation

Media release - Minister Wyatt

The Morrison Government has today introduced a bill into the House of Representatives to amend the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 to make it easier for Indigenous organisations to do business, increase transparency for members and strengthen governance.

Changes to the CATSI Act will make it easier to establish corporate structures that are fit-for-purpose and better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to advance economic and community development opportunities.

Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP, said extensive consultation had informed the final Bill and he appreciated the efforts of all of those who participated in the consultation opportunities.

“I am pleased to have introduced this Bill into the Parliament today – this Bill has been years in the making and I am confident the amendments have struck the right chord,” Minister Wyatt said.

“We know that Indigenous corporations play a central role in supporting economic development in Indigenous communities, particularly in regional and remote Australia.

“A number of the amendments in this Bill are able to be tailored by corporations to suit their circumstances. This Bill slashes red tape, supports greater transparency for members, and recognises the self-determination aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”

This Bill will:

• make it easier and less costly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations to register and operate under the CATSI Act, in particular to ensure that regulation is proportional to size and avoids overregulation;
• promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ economic development through CATSI Act corporations, by providing more flexibility to create business structures and operate more effectively in small communities;
• increase transparency of corporation operations through improved reporting for members, common law holders and other stakeholders;
• enhance support for CATSI corporations that are experiencing difficulties to return to health and ultimately, the control of members;
• streamline the process of winding up defunct corporations;
• enhance the efficacy of operations by increasing corporations’ access to modern technology, including for managing their membership bases; and
• provide the Registrar with expanded powers to enable a graduated, proportionate response to non-compliance.

“The CATSI Amendment Bill builds on the findings of a 2017 Technical Review, the 2018 Strengthening and Transparency Bill and the comprehensive review of the CATSI Act I announced in 2019.

“It consolidates the feedback from those processes as well as the feedback on the exposure draft which the National Indigenous Australians Agency sought comment on during July of this year.

“The amendments in the Bill modernise the Act and will bring it in line with the needs and expectations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”