Dumped youth justice program provider tied to for-profit NZ firm
The abandoned provider of one of the Queensland government’s flagship new youth justice programs has been accused in parliament of misusing public funds and is closely linked to a for-profit New Zealand-based firm.
Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber told parliament on Friday that her department had referred the Namu Collective to the Crime and Corruption Commission, Queensland Police Service, ASIC and the ATO.
He said this was done “on the basis of misuse of public funds”. The 36 young people assigned by the group under the Staying on Track program will be referred to other providers.
“The government takes decisive action when contractual requirements are not met… It is incredibly important that providers are held accountable, and this issue is taken very seriously,” Gerber said.
The $225 million intensive rehabilitation program was included in the 2024 election as one of the Crisafulli LNP’s key youth justice priorities, with tenders for providers launched last March.
Namu, who registered her ABN just days before tenders opened, was announced as the successful applicant in Townsville in October and was one of three people to implement the program in the state’s far north.
The Townsville announcement read: Gerber with the participation of Prime Minister David Crisafulliand numerous local government MPs.
It was founded by private company Genus Passi and supported by Miya Services. Appeared in September 2024 As part of a fee-for-service residential care provider for the Department of Child Safety.
Passi, who is also Namu’s chief executive and president, was previously listed as chairman of the board on Miya’s website. Lachlan Sloan, Miya’s general manager, was also previously listed as a manager and is Namu’s manager.
Corporate records show Miya is a minority shareholder in Namu and Passi has a majority stake. Sloan is Miya’s sole shareholder.
Based in Auckland, Sloan is also co-founder and managing director of New Zealand-based MSA Group, where Miya Services has been identified as a subsidiary alongside Mana Services Aotearoa.
MSA Group is described on its website as having “investments in Australia and New Zealand” and says it has “a distinctive combination of business investments and social enterprise that blends profitability with purpose”.
Sloan described himself on LinkedIn as “a serial entrepreneur with over two decades of experience scaling multimillion-dollar businesses in recruiting, flexible workspaces, social services, technology and real estate in New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and beyond.”
On Miya’s LinkedIn page, Sloan was quoted as saying that MSA Group plans to move Miya to Indigenous community control.
Last July the Crisafulli government appointed Passi He held paid roles among various LNP figures on the State Archives Public Records Review Committee and the First Nations Advisory Group.
Earlier this year this imprint asked Sloan and Passi if there were any financial return arrangements for shareholders of the two Australian companies, or for returns from them to MSA Group.
In an emailed response at the time, Sloan said he would “respectfully decline” to comment or provide details on the matter, citing “private companies’ confidential business and governance arrangements.”
“Also contracts and/or commercial agreements with the Queensland Government that are covered by strict confidentiality regulations,” he said.
Contacted on Friday for comment on Namu’s referral to authorities and the government’s allegations that the company misappropriated funds, Sloan said: “We are unable to comment at this time.”
This byline does not suggest wrongdoing by Passi or Sloan; It merely shows that a company under their control was referred to the authorities and accused of misusing public funds.
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Matt Dennien is a reporter for the Brisbane Times covering state politics, parliament and the public sector. He previously worked for newspapers in Tasmania and Brisbane community radio station 4ZZZ. Contact him securely on Signal @mattdennien.15Connect via email.
