Youpla directors disqualified over collapsed funeral fund that targeted Aboriginal families
Summary
An Australian federal court disqualified three former Youpla Group directors from managing corporations and ordered them to pay a combined $90,000. The court found they failed to meet their duties to members of the funeral fund, which collapsed in 2022 and left more than 13,000 Aboriginal people without funeral cover.Key Facts
- Jonathan Law was disqualified for six years and ordered to pay $50,000.
- Michael Wilson was disqualified for 10 years and ordered to pay $20,000.
- Geoffrey Clayton was disqualified for five years and ordered to pay $20,000.
- The three directors were also ordered to contribute a combined $17,000 toward the plaintiff’s legal costs.
- The court found the directors failed to exercise care and diligence, manage conflicts of interest, and protect members from detriment.
- Youpla collapsed in March 2022, leaving more than 13,000 Aboriginal people without the means to pay for funerals.
- Founder Ron Pattenden was previously ordered to pay $250,000 and barred from managing corporations for 15 years.
- Former chief Bryn Jones was found to have breached his duties; the court will set his penalty later.
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