Vic govt sacks stolen generations board

The Victorian government has dumped the board of a stolen generations support group,
cut its funding and called in the police to investigate alleged misappropriation of
funds.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is also investigating
Stolen Generations Victoria Ltd (SGV) after auditors uncovered almost $100,000 in
funds were unaccounted for.
Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Minister Richard Wynne on Wednesday announced that
funding for the group would be cut immediately and a new body established to provide
support services and advocacy for members of the state's stolen generations.
He said forensic accountants BDO Australia had uncovered inappropriate expenditure
and inadequate documentation for expenditure totalling about $97,000.
"We do not tolerate financial mismanagement of any publicly-funded organisation, no
matter what services they provide, but we recognise the value of the SGV staff's
work and that is why we will ensure services they previously provided continue to be
available to those who need them," Mr Wynne said in a statement.
"This decision was not made easily, but it is in the best interests of the stolen
generations community and I am now focused on ensuring the seamless transition of
services they need."
An investigation was triggered mid last year when SGV's chief executive was stood
down and later sacked.
The group was established in 2005 in response to the Bringing them Home report and
is fully funded by the state government with a three-year budget of about $900,000.
SGV acting chief executive Janis Constable said the group would continue to operate
under a new name and management structure.
Staff and clients would not be affected and only the 10-member board of management
would change, she said.
"Operationally the services that we provide will continue, it's just under a new
governance structure," Ms Constable told AAP.
"I can't really comment on the details of the forensic audit ... but there's $97,000
that has come into question.
"It is very disappointing. I know it sounds like a lot of money but it hasn't really
impacted how we deliver our services to our members."
A spokeswoman for Mr Wynne said the government could not sack boards unless they
were ministerially appointed but could force them to stop operating by cutting
funding.
Ms Constable said staff had not been implicated in any of the issues raised by the
audit.
She said clients would be better off under the new management structure and the
group would consult with the Koori community in coming weeks over the appointment of
a new board.