BAC response to NIT article published 21 November

Ballardong Aboriginal Corporation (BAC) is disappointed that NIT has published an article about BAC that is built on a foundation of easily fact-checked errors.

The article, labeled an “exclusive”, was so exclusive that the NIT published it without sharing the claims with BAC and providing an opportunity to respond - a basic journalistic practice. 

These errors are addressed below.

Point 1

"ORIC has issued notices to the seven regional WA organisations in October regarding concerns about non-compliance with their respective rule books, in relation to the Noongar Settlement.”

While ORIC invited the chair and one other director from each of the Noongar corporations to attend a meeting, they did not identify any specific concerns about the corporation rule books. Along with the other six Noongar corporations, Ballardong Aboriginal Corporation is waiting for ORIC to provide details of any specific concerns they may have.

In the meantime, BAC continues to operate with a valid rule book that has been endorsed by the Ballardong Agreement Group, and approved by ORIC and the State Government as part of the Noongar Settlement.

Point 2

"Two outgoing Ballardong directors were immediately re-elected in October following their two-year terms expiring, despite ORIC earlier denying the corporation's request to extend the maximum two-year term for its directors, as outlined in the BAC rule book.”

In October 2024, four new member directors were elected and appointed in full accordance with the rule book. This process was overseen by an independent returning officer.

The 4 member directors prior to the 2024 AGM were:

• Michael Blurton

• Murray Yarran

• Kevin Fitzgerald

• Norm Pickett

Following the close of the 2024 AGM, the 4 member directors were:

• Tracey de Grussa

• Murray Jones

• Farley Garlett

• Carol Garlett

None of the four member directors who were elected in 2022 remained on the board following the 2024 AGM.

Farley Garlett resigned from the board in August 2025, and was replaced by the candidate with the next highest number of votes, Murray Yarran. This appointment is also fully compliant with the rule book.

This information was provided to the journalist on an earlier occasion, and has been publicly available on the BAC website for anyone to find since 23 August.

Point 3

"Some senior Ballardong people - such as Mr Kickett and his 81-year-old mother - were removed from BAC's membership roll, allegedly without proper authority.”

No BAC member has ever been removed from BAC’s membership roll. 

The person referred to in the article remains on the membership roll, and was on the mailing list to receive the AGM notice. 

The person referred to resigned from the Cultural Advice Committee on 24 June 2024.

Point 3b

"[The member], who served on BAC's Cultural Awareness Committee…"

The name of this committee is the Cultural Advice Committee.

Point 4

"Another recent election - of new members to BAC's Cultural Awareness Committee - was extended after complaints the digital process excluded many senior Ballardong members and Elders.”

The election process for the Cultural Advice Committee was extended to allow people time to receive their police clearances. The returning officer’s report that explains this extension is publicly available on the BAC website, dated 4 September. 

The process was not digital only.

Point 5

The inclusion of quotes from a BAC spokeswoman at the end of the story creates the impression that all of the previous claims were also put to BAC for comment. 

The comments in relation to the offensive smear regarding the CEO’s Noongar connections were provided to NIT a month ago. The proof of the CEO's Noongar ancestry that BAC provided to NIT was so comprehensive that the implication that he is not Noongar should never have been published in light of this information.

It is especially shameful that it was the National Indigenous Times that chose to publish this completely unfounded smear.