Action to help Palm applauded

THE State Government’s swift appointment of two officials to steer the embattled Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council out of strife should be commended.

The island’s council is facing a significant governance calamity after revelations its finance head of more than a decade John Mugambi Mwamba had been charged with 24 counts of alleged fraud. On Thursday last week the council resolved to seek emergency support from the State Government and the next day Local Government Stirling Hinchliffe announced a financial controller and governance adviser would be appointed to assist.

Accountant Neil Michel and public servant Gary Kleidon were yesterday appointed to those roles respectively.

Encouragingly, both Mr Michel and Mr Kleidon appear to have experience working in indigenous communities.

This experience is critical considering the reaction of Palm Island residents following the fraud allegations.

Mr Kleidon, who will begin his three month term on July 17 as governance adviser, spent 14 years as chief executive of Aurukun Shire Council until 2007.

In 2008, the residents of Aurukun launched a petition to sack their chief executive with some asking for Mr Kleidon to return instead. It is expected that Mr Kleidon would have a deep understanding of how indigenous communities function and do business.

Mr Michel previously served for Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council, also as a financial controller and was able to bring the council’s books back into the black. However, the State Government appointed officials will have a tough journey ahead of them, not only in repairing council’s books and governance, but in assuring the Palm Island community that they will be included in the conversation and good outcomes are on the horizon. The State Government must also ensure transparency in the work that Mr Michel and Mr Kleidon are involved in and what comes out of their three month stint.