The executive team at Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-operative (GEGAC) has been dismissed.
Those stood down, include, chief executive officer, Bradley Brown.
Adrian Morgan, who chaired the board of GEGAC, was appointed by the GEGAC board in the role of interim CEO and reportedly carried out the dismissals.
The Advertiser understands Mr Morgan operated in both roles as CEO and GEGAC board chair for seven weeks, until stepping down as chair last Monday. However, he still remains on the board.
Mr Morgan said he did not appoint himself and was not part of the appointment process in the role of the CEO. He did confirm that the executive team had been dismissed.
“I can’t talk about it at the moment, we’re still going through a process,” Mr Morgan said.
The Advertiser has been told by those dismissed that they were initially advised by email during the second week of July (NAIDOC Week) that their employment was being terminated, but no reason was given.
GEGAC confirmed last Friday that attempts were made to contact all dismissed employees by phone to attend a meeting. As a second course of action termination letters were emailed and letters sent to home addresses by courier.
The executive team dismissed includes the CEO, general manager, cultural director, business development manager, learning and innovative manager and the quality manager.
It is believed five of the six, which include three non-Indigenous team members, have lodged a joint unfair dismissal claim with the Fair Work Commission.
According to GEGAC, Mr Brown is understood to have not taken an unfair dismissal claim to the Fair Work Commission.
The Advertiser understands there have been further sackings unrelated to the executive team, taking the number of unfair dismissal claims to eight.
The Advertiser has been told four of those have also lodged bullying and harassment claims against individual board members, however GEGAC has not been notified of any claims.
GEGAC board member, Les Solomon, ceased to be a board member following the dismissals.
Mr Solomon was previously the chair of GEGAC before he was replaced by Mr Morgan back in May.
GEGAC has appointed an independent consultant, Michael Eagles, to the board. He is now the interim chairperson.
Mr Eagles clarified to the community and the staff of GEGAC last Friday at an open community meeting, attended by around 80 people, the story around his Aboriginality.
Mr Eagles confirmed a number of community members and employees spoke passionately for the support of the current board.
Consumer Affairs Victoria, as the regulator of co-operatives, oversees GEGAC. The director of Consumer Affairs has the power to appoint an administrator.
The Advertiser has been informed that funding makes up 80 per cent of the budget, depositing about $10 million into the GEGAC coffers annually.
Federal and State government agencies make up the remaining 20 per cent of funding to the cooperative.
