Leaders of one of the Kimberley's most influential Indigenous organisations have used police to eject native title holders from an annual general meeting, as it resists calls for a vote of no confidence in directors.
MG Corporation represents Miriwoong and Gajirrabeng people and has major business and agricultural interests in the Ord Valley, while running social programs for disadvantaged youth.
Its native title area takes in a large part of the East Kimberley, centred around the farming and tourism hub of Kununurra — stretching from Lake Argyle, along the Northern Territory border, to the coast.
MG Corporation has said little about why it called police last week to remove three members from an annual general meeting.
One of those members, Donald Chulung, is a former businessman and native title organiser who has served multiple terms on MG Corporation's board.
He said annual general meetings of native title groups were traditionally robust affairs when directors and senior staff answered questions and addressed concerns from members.
Mr Chulung said he did not bully or threaten anyone at the meeting last Tuesday but asked critical questions about the corporation's activities.
The following morning, when the meeting resumed, Kununurra police officers escorted him and three others off MG Corporation's premises.
"When the cops had to come and remove us, it must be embarrassing for people looking outside at our corporation ... thinking this is just stupid," he said.
A spokesperson for MG Corporation said its priority was to ensure the safety of staff and members, but it did not elaborate further.
"Consistent with this approach, all members were provided the opportunity to participate in the AGM," the spokesperson said.
WA Police said no charges were laid.
"Police were called to attend the meeting to maintain the peace. Several people were in attendance who had been banned by the board from the meeting," a spokesperson said.
Frustration lingers over appointment of directors
The current frustration among some members stems, in part, from a divisive Dawang Council meeting in April.
According to the native title body's rules, if a director wants to continue beyond their two-year term they must nominate and be approved by the 16-member Dawang Council, which represents members from traditional land areas.
Then-Dawang Council member Mr Chulung said he was among a group of four members who left the meeting in protest because they were given insufficient notice of a vote to renew the terms of three directors and the executive chair Lawford Benning.
"You could see on the meeting notice it didn't say anything about renewing any directors," he said.
"We walked out because we wanted the proper process that they step down and the corporation advertises a director vacancy."
"It's about picking the right people who are going to do the right thing by the organisation. Not start fights and get everyone hating each other."
MG Corporation did not specifically address or dispute, when questioned by the ABC, that not enough notice was provided to Dawang Council members before those key leadership votes.
MG Corporation's spokesperson said the directors and executive chair were reappointed in accordance with its rule book.
"MG Corporation always acts in the best interests of members and staff and in compliance with its policies and the rule book," the spokesperson said.
Aggrieved members put forward petition
Aggrieved members have also organised a petition, seen by the ABC, which they say has been signed by more than 10 per cent of members.
The petition demands a special meeting to hold a vote of no confidence in the current directors.
MG Corporation has so far resisted efforts to call such a meeting, prompting Mr Chulung to raise the matter with the federal regulator, the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC).
ORIC declined to comment.
Mr Chulung said the petition warranted attention given it had almost 40 member signatures.
"It's very frustrating. It deserves a general meeting because it gives everyone a chance to know what's going on," he said.
MG Corporation said the petition did not meet the requirements set out in its rule book.
A spokesperson did not provide any further explanation.
