Supply Nation first as company deregistered for breach
In what is thought to be a first, Supply Nation has deregistered a company for “providing numerous false and misleading statements” about the organisation.
“Being registered or certified with Supply Nation offers enormous benefits, but it also carries responsibilities,” Supply Nation CEO Kate Russell said.
“Our Code of Conduct requires all members and suppliers to not bully, discriminate, harass, insult, victimise or vilify others. As an Indigenous organisation, we are aware of the harm that lateral violence can cause in our communities. We have zero tolerance for such behaviours.”
Opportunity to respond
“The vast majority of our suppliers do the right thing. We are not aware of this kind of action ever being taken before in Supply Nation’s history.”
Ms Russell added the company had been given an opportunity to respond to the complaints but had declined.
Supply Nation had not stated the identity of the company, now named in the media and believed to be Bunji Enterprises in Queensland.
“We do not ever disclose the business or individual concerned,” a Supply Nation spokesperson told First Nations News. “If others do it is up to them.”
The de-registration letter, sent by Supply Nation’s lawyers, stated the company had “contravened Clause 9 (b) (iv) of Supply Nations Registered and Certified terms and conditions”.
Remove all Supply Nations logos
It also stated there were breaches of its Member and Supplier Code of Conduct and that the breaches warranted de-registration.
The legal letter directed the company to immediately stop using the registered supplier logo and remove all Supply Nations logos or references from its website.
Adam Williams, a Director of Bunji Enterprises and Chair of the Murri Chamber of Commerce, publicly criticised Supply Nation and the Queensland government in a social media post in August.
The post drew a swift response from Ms Russell, who told Mr Williams in a letter: “In our view, the comments in your LinkedIn posts risk negatively impacting the reputation of Supply Nation and undermining the integrity of Supply Nation’s network, which Bunji Enterprises is a part of.”
Mr Williams then told another publication: “For an organisation preaching Indigenous empowerment, their actions suggest they’ve mastered the art of colonial gatekeeping better than their predecessors.”
