Prosecution update: 2025–26 outcomes for not reporting and false reporting

Summary of prosecutions for failing to lodge reports 

During 2025–26, 19 corporations were convicted for failing to lodge annual reports.  

Most of the offences were for failing to lodge annual reports for the last 2 financial years. Although some offences were for reports dating back much further.

Collectively, the 19 corporations were found guilty of 88 breaches of the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act).  

Six corporations in the Northern Territory were among those convicted, representing the largest number of prosecutions by jurisdiction, followed by Western Australia with 5 corporations prosecuted.  

The largest single breach count in a matter was 12 breaches. This outcome involved the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Corporation for Welfare Services (Queensland).

Orders made against the corporations included a collective total of more than $100,000 in fines, discharges, recognisances, good behaviour orders, and matters where no monetary penalty was recorded.  

Corporations – in fact anyone – can check if they have any overdue reports by checking their corporation extract in the public Register of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations. Anyone can also check the consolidated list of corporations with overdue reports for the 2023–24 and 2024–25 financial years. 

False reporting prosecution results in director disqualification 

Separately, one other prosecution led to a director being convicted for knowingly lodging a false or misleading report to ORIC.  

On 14 October 2025, Wayne Fernando, formerly of Ellimatta Housing Aboriginal Corporation, was given an 18-month community corrections order for 2 counts of lodging false or misleading statements on behalf of the corporation.  

He was automatically disqualified from being an officer of a corporation, which means he cannot be a director or manager of a corporation for 5 years from the sentence.

See a listing of all prosecution outcomes.