The revelations surrounding the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) CEO Yuseph Deen sparked significant concerns about transparency, accountability and governance within NSW Aboriginal Affairs.
Which included allegations that Deen who was supposed to be based in Sydney where NSWALCs head office is located, has been residing in Brisbane and Coffs Harbour, leading to substantial travel expenses that burden the council’s finances.
The CEO’s alleged residency outside of Sydney has led to frequent travels between Queensland and NSW, incurring significant costs.
And the reports indicated that between October 2021 and November 2023, the travel expenses totaled approximately $73k, which included multiple high-cost flights, such as a $20,800 trip from Sydney to New York and an $18,801 flight to Boston.
The extravagant nature of these expenses, especially during a period of financial strain and governance challenges for NSWALC, raises serious questions about fiscal responsibility.
And the financial implications of these travel expenses are concerning because the costs suggest that Deen may not be residing in Sydney as required by his role.
If true, this disconnect between official residence requirements and actual living arrangements highlights significant governance / operational challenges and the necessity of such travel and accommodation expenditures is questionable, given that the CEO’s presence is expected in Sydney, where the main office is located.
So efforts to obtain clarity on these issues were met with resistance.
And a Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA) request for detailed information on Deen’s travel expenses was initially met with a $600 processing fee, later reduced to $130 after an external review deemed the original fee unjustified.
Bit despite reaching out to NSWALC’s Media and Communications team and the CEO directly, responses were delayed and incomplete.
Additionally, NSWALC’s media team even accused this journalist of not seeking the truth, despite persistent efforts to obtain accurate information.
Transparency and Ethical Considerations for Aboriginal Affairs
But these revelations bring into focus the need for stringent oversight and responsible fiscal management within NSWALC and the substantial travel expenses, including business class flights (like First Class flights) are probably unjustifiable, especially given the organisation’s financial struggles and the community’s needs.
And the logistical and ethical considerations of the CEO potentially residing outside of NSW complicates the issue further.
But in pursuit of transparency, this journalist contacted NSWALC, Yuseph Deen, Aboriginal Affairs NSW and the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, The Hon. David Harris MP for comments…
Unfortunately, none responded within the stated timeframe or confirmed the details.
So this lack of response underscores the urgent need for greater accountability within NSWALC to ensure that NSW Aboriginal Affairs resources are used effectively and in the best interests of the Aboriginal communities it aims to serve.
And robust governance mechanisms must be implemented to prevent such financial discrepancies and to rebuild trust within the community because transparency and accountability are paramount to ensuring that government organisations operate in the best interests of those they serve.
