COMMUNITY COMPANY HERALDS NEW ERA: MINISTER
Published Wednesday, 17 October, 2007 at 10:49 AM
Minister for Communities, Disability Services, ATSIP, Multicultural Affairs, Seniors and Youth
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr has today announced a new public company would be established on Palm Island to boost services and business opportunities for local residents.
Ms Lindy Nelson-Carr said the new Palm Island Community Company Limited was a partnership between the Palm Island Community, Palm Island Traditional owners, the Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council and the Queensland Government.
“This company is a first for Queensland and may become a model for Indigenous communities around Australia,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“It will offer business services to non-government organisations, manage the delivery of a range of social services and advise and support the community,” she said.
“The company has been registered with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission and is expected to start operating by the end of the year.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said the company’s first board meeting would be held in November and would be followed by a community celebration on the Island.
The public company has been registered under Corporations Law and is limited by shares and guided by a Shareholder’s Agreement and Constitution.
“The Palm Island Community Company has a robust legal framework to protect stakeholders and it has a skilled board of directors,” said the Minister.
Ms Nelson-Carr said the board members were chair Carol Peltola (joint Council and State nominee), Paul Travis and Jim Petrich (Council nominees), Mark Johnston and Rhonda Phillips (State Government nominees), Allan Palm Island (Traditional Owner nominee), with a community shareholder nominee yet to be appointed.
“This is a new form of organisation for Palm Island and the company may serve as a model to improve service delivery in other communities around the country,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“It is the result of hard work between the people of Palm Island, the Palm Island Council and the Queensland Government and I want to say thank you to all who have been involved – congratulations.
“This heralds a new era on Palm.”
The Department of Communities established a small team to progress structural options for a legal entity in April 2005. It will continue to support the public company for at least its first year.
Among the company’s activities will be delivering a range of social and community programs on the Island, including education, training and employment services, physical and mental health, diversion programs and business support.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Media contact: Minister’s Office 3235 4280
Ms Lindy Nelson-Carr said the new Palm Island Community Company Limited was a partnership between the Palm Island Community, Palm Island Traditional owners, the Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council and the Queensland Government.
“This company is a first for Queensland and may become a model for Indigenous communities around Australia,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“It will offer business services to non-government organisations, manage the delivery of a range of social services and advise and support the community,” she said.
“The company has been registered with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission and is expected to start operating by the end of the year.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said the company’s first board meeting would be held in November and would be followed by a community celebration on the Island.
The public company has been registered under Corporations Law and is limited by shares and guided by a Shareholder’s Agreement and Constitution.
“The Palm Island Community Company has a robust legal framework to protect stakeholders and it has a skilled board of directors,” said the Minister.
Ms Nelson-Carr said the board members were chair Carol Peltola (joint Council and State nominee), Paul Travis and Jim Petrich (Council nominees), Mark Johnston and Rhonda Phillips (State Government nominees), Allan Palm Island (Traditional Owner nominee), with a community shareholder nominee yet to be appointed.
“This is a new form of organisation for Palm Island and the company may serve as a model to improve service delivery in other communities around the country,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“It is the result of hard work between the people of Palm Island, the Palm Island Council and the Queensland Government and I want to say thank you to all who have been involved – congratulations.
“This heralds a new era on Palm.”
The Department of Communities established a small team to progress structural options for a legal entity in April 2005. It will continue to support the public company for at least its first year.
Among the company’s activities will be delivering a range of social and community programs on the Island, including education, training and employment services, physical and mental health, diversion programs and business support.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Media contact: Minister’s Office 3235 4280