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The last act of Orkopoulos: skewering the Darkinjung
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The murky story of former NSW Aboriginal Affairs Minister Milton Orkopoulos, who is awaiting sentence on 28 sex and drug charges, is becoming murkier. One of his last ministerial decisions was to sign, just before midnight – and seven hours prior to his arrest – an instrument to appoint a handpicked administrator for the Darkinjung Aboriginal Land Council on the NSW Central Coast. Without evidence of impropriety or the misappropriation of a single cent, the Darkinjung mob were shut down on a legal technicality and watched their hopes for a new beginning go up in smoke. Their plans to use their own money - $42 million raised from the sale of a piece of valuable property at The Entrance to Mirvac - to create a better life for their community by starting commercial business enterprises have been dashed. The projects were based on the best legal, financial and commercial advice available and they had even won acclaim and awards for their initiative. So what was their “crime”? According to government officials who briefed a local MP after the administrator’s appointment they were “too far ahead of their time”. As Aboriginal Affairs Minister, Orkopoulos, who represented the neighbouring Hunter seat of Swansea, played a wilful and shameful role in the legal and bureaucratic attack on the Darkinjung people. Whereas his role as minister and local MP should have been protector, custodian and supporter, the left-wing MP put in the boot. His successor Reba Meagher took an initial interest in the land council scandal and then dropped off when it all looked too hard. The new minister, Paul Lynch, is a former industrial lawyer and civil rights campaigner who could do something to right the wrongs committed against the Darkinjungs but there is no sign that he will take up the cudgels as he would, say, for Sinn Feiners or the Sandinistas. Meanwhile, the federal Aboriginal Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin seems to have decided that her best option is to stay well away from the NSW issue. On the surface, the NSW Labor Government promotes Aboriginal self-development but the Darkinjung story shows what happens to uppity blackfellas who want to redeem themselves and get ahead like the white folk. Their cattle, housing and job training projects have been wound up on the say-so of a minister who has been found guilty of heinous crimes against teenagers, giving them heroin and other drugs in return for sex. If ever there was a case that deserved executive action to put right, a full judicial inquiry or public hearings by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) this is it. Instead, it’s heading for a spot under the carpet or a perpetual burial place on the the Supreme Court law list. As the late Xavier Herbert wrote: “Poor fella, my country.” |
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15 Comments
Yep, Darkinjung paid National Managment Consultants over $2million and for what?. It wasn’t to do with the sale of North Entrance. The DLALC website says that 2 firms of Liquidators, Ferrier Hodgson and Sims Partners advised Darkinjung on North Entrance. I think if there is to be an investigation of Darkinjung and Hillig’s appointment someone also needs to look at how much they paid Consultants like NMC, Lawyers and Accountants (rumour is many millions). Also why these advsiers were paid so much??. I am suspicious.
response to Dee, Hillig is a Partner of Smith Hanncock Liquidators at Parramatta, they are apppointed to destruct not to construct, Hillig was also a close freind of the late adminestrater of New South Wales Aboriginal land Council anther part of the link
What about the rumours of Darkinjung spending $2million+ on consulting fees with National Management Consultants, a consulting firm in Canberra over only 2 years??. Seems the director tried to get a mate in on investing Darkinjung’s money too!!
Nice try at deflection, other John. Please keep on this, Crikey. A shameful denial by NSW government of the type of action informed, contemporary opinion says will give aboriginees a chance for long-term dignified future.
The Link between Orkopoulos and the Administrator shoud be investigated. The link is Viet Nam.
John T-I’m not deflecting anything- Mitchell’s using tabloid journalism to weave Orkopoulos’s criminal history with his ministerial decisions. It’s cheap and not terribly informative. Some facts please Alex. This is crikey, not The Sun.
I agree. Lets hear more on this.
If Mitchell says the Darkinjung decision (and I declare my ignorance) needs investigation-then it does as he is one of the best politcal writers in the country. It’s just a pity he never had a better outlet than a Sunday tabloid-just my personal opinion.
Alex, I’m glad you’re pursuing this issue. The actions of the NSW govt speak much louder than their words …
The administrator it should be known continues to make a fortune from this shamefull act.
Alex -are accusing Milton Orkopoulos on absolutely no evidence except a distaste for his crime. He couldn’t have had any idea he was to be arrested in “seven hours”-the police don’t politely alert you to the fact they are about to pounce.
So - where’s the $42 million. Do the Darkinjung still have control over the funds?
How tiresome-I don’t know the facts of the Darkinjung matter and Mitchell may be spot on. But what’s it to do with Orkopoulos crimes ?. Mitchell claims the “murky” story is becoming “murkier”. Give us facts instead of tabloid innuendo.
John you are wrong. Orkopolous has been shown to have had an appalling disregard for his responsibilities as a Minister. This throws doubt on his other Ministerial decisions. Remember, this was his decision, not based on evidence of improper activity.
I wonder what indigenous barrister Tony McEvoy, formerly of Dept of Aboriginal Affairs might have to offer on this? His expert opinion would be invaluable as to this situation and I for one would take him at his word too. But would he tell? One wonders.