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IT'S SICK, ATSIC

Let's re-visit an issue I raised here yesterday and which nobody wanted to talk about to me on radio. Not the federal government nor the Opposition.

The issue: How could ATSIC -- the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission - grant its chairman Geoff Clark $45,000 to pay for legal fees for him and a few of his mates who were allegedly involved in a drunken brawl which involved police being assaulted in a Warrnambool pub.

A police officer reportedly used a full can of capsicum spray to subdue Clark.

It's sick ATSIC. And I agree with a former board member who says it is
" immoral" and " an absolute joke".

But it gets worse. Details are now coming out of how the decision was made to spend $45,000 of taxpayers' money on Clark's personal and legal problems.

It was the last meeting of the outgoing ATSIC board last September. Since then a new board has been elected.

There are 18 members of the ATSIC board. In the final minutes of the meeting Geoff Clark called for an in-camera session to discuss a matter that was not on the agenda even though board members were packing their bags to leave.

All ATSIC staff were asked to leave except the Commission's lawyer.

Clark asked for $45,000. And according to the then Victorian Commissioner, Marion Hansen, " there was no documentation, no paperwork. The figure was just plucked out of the air. A figure thrown on the table and they just said yes".

To be fair to some board members the vote was close. There were 18 members. All obviously weren't there. The vote in favour of giving Clark and his mates money was 5-4 with two abstentions. So only five of 18 Commissioners voted in favour of Clark.

As I said yesterday the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Philip Ruddock, must step in and find a way to over-rule this rorting.

Geoff Clark is an alleged serial rapist. He appeared in Warrnambool court today on charges including assaulting police before he was subdued with capsicum spray. Police accused Clark of inciting violence and said they feared a full-scale drunken riot would break out.

Clark is paid, I was going to say earns, $235,000 a year as Chairman of ATSIC. He did not get into this situation in his official capacity as ATSIC chairman. He should not get one dollar of taxpayers' money.

And I agree with the former head of ATSIC Lowitja O' Donoghue who said Clark got himself into this trouble. He should pay for it.

As I also said yesterday in my opinion the man is a shameless disgrace to his people.

Tuesday, February 25, 2003

©Copyright Derryn Hinch 2002