An SBS story published on 3 July 2024 by Greg Wilesmith (Ref: Koolyn was appointed to an electrical company’s board. He wanted to help others, but he was being used) provides a stark reminder of the financial and cultural consequences that can arise when Indigenous identity is exploited for profit.
In the story, respected young electrician Koolyn Briggs recounts how he was unknowingly installed as a director of a non-Indigenous company’s “Indigenous arm.” The opportunity was presented to him as a community-focused, not-for-profit enterprise – a business that would “create platforms for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to embark on a career that helps change lives”.
Wilesmith reports that Koolyn was not paid or invited to Board meetings; however, when the business collapsed and went into liquidation, Koolyn was left with a $700,000 tax liability and drawn into a “devastating legal and financial nightmare”.
Koolyn’s experience is sadly not an anomaly, as black cladding continues to manifest in many different forms, and beyond the financial fallout for the individuals involved, the cultural harm is profound.
Black cladding erodes trust in Indigenous businesses and weakens community confidence in procurement frameworks, undermining the very policies designed to create economic opportunity for our people.
Every fraudulent claim diverts resources away from Indigenous families, entrepreneurs and communities who depend on these pathways to build sustainable futures.
Stories like Koolyn’s highlight the urgent need for stronger verification, transparency, and accountability across all Indigenous procurement systems. Ensuring that businesses are truly Indigenous-owned, Indigenous-controlled and managed with integrity is at the heart of the IBIR process