Victoria Editor
Melbourne https://plus.google.com/106140687680516794384 THE Prime Minister’s senior indigenous adviser, Warren Mundine, plans to sue Fairfax after he was accused of brokering a “highly questionable deal” that gave a mining company access to an Aboriginal sacred site in Western Australia.
“The allegations against me published in Fairfax Media last weekend are false,” Mr Mundine says in the statement to be released today.
Fairfax alleged that Indigenous Investment Management, part owned by Mr Mundine, was hired in 2010-11 by the listed Reward Minerals to convince the Western Desert Lands Aboriginal Corp to drop its opposition to a mine at Lake Disappointment, a sacred site for the Martu people of the Pilbara.
“Fairfax’s claim that I have been in any way involved in dealings between WDLAC and Reward, Rio or any other company is untrue,” the chairman of the national Indigenous Advisory Council said.
“What’s more, Fairfax’s insinuation that I am connected to any subsequent operations of WDLAC, its financial dealings, use of funds or conduct of members’ meetings is unprofessional and disgraceful journalism. Neither I nor any of my businesses were involved in negotiations or discussions between Reward and WDLAC or the Martu people, directly or behind the scenes.
“I have not received any money, shares, options or other benefits in connection with those dealings and nor has Indigenous Investment Management Pty Ltd (IIM).
“(Fairfax journalist) Richard Baker was told this before his article was published.”
Mr Mundine said IIM was set up to pursue an unrelated proposal which did not involve Martu land. The proposal did not go ahead and the company was deregistered 17 months later in February 2012.
“For much of my professional life I have actively worked to promote good governance in Aboriginal organisations and to counter the bigoted stereotype that Aboriginal organisations and their officers are prone to poor management and corruption,” Mr Mundine said
“I am appalled that Fairfax Media and the journalists involved would invoke these stereotypes to peddle untrue allegations against me and others.”
Fairfax last night declined to comment on the issue. Statement on Fairfax Media allegations
by Nyunggai Warren Mundine
14 July 2014
The allegations against me published in Fairfax Media last weekend are false.
Fairfax’s claim that I have been in any way involved in dealings between WDLAC and Reward, Rio or any other company is untrue.
What’s more, Fairfax’s insinuation that I am connected to any subsequent operations of WDLAC, its financial dealings, use of funds or conduct of members meetings is unprofessional and disgraceful journalism.
Neither I nor any of my businesses were involved in negotiations or discussions between Reward and WDLAC or the Martu people, either directly or behind the scenes. I have not received any money, shares, options or other benefits in connection with those dealings and nor has Indigenous Investment Management Pty Ltd (IIM). Richard Baker was told this before his article was published.
IIM was set up to pursue an unrelated proposal which did not involve Martu land. The proposal did not go ahead the company was deregistered 17 months later in February 2012. Winding up of IIM commenced months earlier in September 2011.
Fairfax, Richard Baker and Nick McKenzie have defamed me and I will be pursuing all legal and other actions against Fairfax, the journalists personally and any other person involved in manufacturing these allegations.
For much of my professional life I have actively worked to promote good governance in Aboriginal organisations and to counter the bigoted stereotype that Aboriginal organisations and their officers are prone to poor management and corruption. I am appalled that Fairfax Media and the journalists involved would invoke these stereotypes to peddle untrue allegations against me and others.
Fairfax has a history as one of Australia’s great media companies. It is disappointing to see it resort to gutter journalism to promote its circulation. There seems to be a lack of editorial control, thorough fact checking and due diligence. If I was on the Fairfax board I would be demanding that management explain how its leading mastheads could publish such defamatory and blatant fabrications.
This matter is now in the hands of my lawyers.
AMN Price at posting:
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