00:00As a co-founder of the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, Natalie Hunter has long held
00:08concerns about issues within the organisation.
00:11We've had many CEOs in the past and now I think it's number six or five or six that's
00:17coming on.
00:18NIGER has been in the headlines for years and now an announcement yesterday that four
00:23board members intend to resign in coming days, including its chair Hugh Woodbury.
00:29That follows a letter sent by the federal and NT governments stating they had lost confidence
00:34in the entire board and questioned the organisation's ongoing funding.
00:39The Federal Attorney General Mark Dreyfuss unwilling to speak today.
00:43The ABC understands he is waiting for all board members to give written notice of their
00:48resignations and not stand for reappointment.
00:52An ultimatum spelled out in the letter.
00:54You can't identify one between the other.
00:57You have to do it as a clean sweep for the future of NIGER and I cannot hold on to individuals
01:04knowing that it's going to cost the whole of NIGER and the whole of Aboriginal people
01:08across this territory.
01:09They should all be dismissed, they're unfit for office and they need to be replaced with
01:13people who are dedicated, industrious, professional.
01:16The Criminal Lawyers Association also saying it hopes NIGER can continue delivering legal
01:22assistance, describing its role as vital.
01:25NIGER staff telling the ABC in confidence these latest developments are just another
01:30example of instability in the agency's upper ranks.
01:34Natalie Hunter has also spoken to current staffers.
01:37I have to say they were delighted with the stepping down of members.
01:44NIGER provides vital legal representation for Indigenous Australians within the Northern
01:49Territories justice system, but these latest revelations have led to renewed calls for
01:54a total rethink of how the organisation operates.
01:58That includes the potential for term limits of board members and a review of its $80 million
02:04in taxpayer funding over five years.
