‘Step in’: Former NAAJA chief demands govt intervene in mess at legal service

Former NAAJA chief Priscilla Atkins calls on government to 'step in' after court find she was unlawfully sacked

North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency chief executive Priscilla Atkins leaves the Federal Court where she is suing NAAJA over an employment dispute. Picture: News Corp Australia/Pema Tamang Pakhrin Justice Charlesworth said Ms Evans had a “substantial role” in the decision to suspend Ms Atkins and order the investigation, that was conducted by auditors BDO Australia.

During the court proceedings, Ms Rosas made allegations that Ms Atkins had forged her signature on a document that had afforded Ms Atkins a contract extension and a pay rise. Justice Charlesworth found NAAJA had provided insufficient evidence to prove this claim.“All I did was put in a complaint and look what happened,” she told Sky News immediately after the decision was delivered on Thursday.Ms Atkins’ sacking has led to significant turmoil at NAAJA.

Questions asked by Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Jacinta Nampijinpa Price in Senate Estimates has revealed 90 NAAJA clients have gone unrepresented since October last year, including 27 who were remanded in custody due to poor service delivery. “When you’re brought up in a big Aboriginal family in Alice Springs, and that’s why I got into justice to make sure our mob could access justice and to see what’s happened over 18 months. It’s heartbreaking knowing we’ve got people sitting in jail with no legal representation,” she said.

Source: Law Daily Report (lawdailyreport.net)

Northern Territory Northern Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency Naaja

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