The dumped provider of one of the Queensland government’s flagship new youth justice programs, accused in parliament of misusing public funds, is intimately linked with a for-profit New Zealand-based firm.
Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber told parliament on Friday that her department had referred Namu Collective to the Crime and Corruption Commission, Queensland Police Service, ASIC and the ATO.
This was done “on the basis that public funds have been misappropriated”, she said. Thirty-six young people engaged by the group under its Staying on Track program will be referred to other providers.
“When contractual requirements are not met, the government takes decisive action … It is incredibly important that providers are held accountable, and this matter is being taken very seriously,” Gerber said.
The $225 million intensive rehabilitation program was taken to the 2024 election as one of the Crisafulli LNP’s key youth justice priorities, with tenders opened for providers last March.
Namu – which registered its ABN just days before tenders opened – was announced in October as the successful applicant in Townsville, and one of three to deliver the program in the state’s far north.
The Townsville announcement was attended by Gerber, Premier David Crisafulli, and a number of local government MPs.
The private company was founded by Genus Passi, and supported by Miya Services, which emerged in September 2024 under a fee-for-service residential care provider for the Child Safety Department.
Passi, also Namu’s managing director and chair, was previously listed on Miya’s website as the chair of its board. Miya’s chief executive, Lachlan Sloan, was also previously listed as a director, and is a director of Namu.
Corporate records show Miya is a minority shareholder in Namu, with Passi holding the majority of shares. Sloan is the sole shareholder of Miya.
Sloan, who lives in Auckland, is also the co-founder and chief executive of New Zealand-based MSA Group, of which Miya Services is described as a subsidiary alongside Mana Services Aotearoa.
MSA Group is described on its website as having “investments across Australia and New Zealand” and says it is “a distinctive fusion of commercial investments and social enterprise, blending profitability with purpose”.
Sloan has described himself on LinkedIn as a “serial entrepreneur with over two decades of experience scaling multimillion-dollar businesses in recruitment, flexible workspaces, social services, technology and real estate across New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and beyond”.
On Miya’s LinkedIn page, Sloan has also been quoted saying MSA Group intended to move Miya to Indigenous community control.
Last July, the Crisafulli government appointed Passi to paid roles on the State Archives’ Public Records Review Committee and First Nations Advisory Group among a range of LNP figures.
Earlier this year, this masthead asked Sloan and Passi whether any financial return arrangements existed for shareholders of the two Australian companies, or from them back to MSA Group.
In an emailed response at the time, Sloan said he would “respectfully decline” to give comments or details on the matter, citing “confidential commercial and governance arrangements of private companies”.
“As well as to contracts and or commercial arrangements with the Queensland Government which are covered by strict confidentiality arrangements,” he said.
Approached for comment on Friday about Namu’s referral to authorities and government allegations the company misappropriated funds, Sloan said: “We are unable to comment at this time.”
This masthead does not suggest Passi or Sloan have engaged in wrongdoing, only that a company under their control has been referred to authorities and accused of misusing public funds.
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Matt Dennien is a reporter at Brisbane Times covering state politics, parliament and the public sector. He has previously worked for newspapers in Tasmania and Brisbane community radio station 4ZZZ. Contact him securely on Signal @mattdennien.15Connect via email.
