Aboriginal Board Brawl Investigation Launched

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, October 15, 2026

A physical altercation involving Julyardi Aboriginal Corporation director Raylene Button and a female elder during a Kariyarra Aboriginal Corporation board meeting has prompted an investigation, alongside scrutiny of Button's misuse of a corporate credit card. This incident highlights concerns about governance and accountability within Aboriginal organizations managing substantial government funds for critical community services.

An investigation has been initiated following a violent altercation involving a director of the Julyardi Aboriginal Corporation, which manages approximately $30 million in government funding for child protection, domestic violence, and other social services in Port Hedland, Western Australia. A video obtained by media outlets shows Julyardi director Raylene Button engaged in a physical confrontation with a female elder during a meeting of the Kariyarra Aboriginal Corporation (KAC), the organisation representing native title holders in the region.

The recorded incident reportedly took place around 2020 at a board meeting of Kariyarra, which negotiates royalty agreements and advocates on behalf of its community members. The organisation emphasises the importance of including community voices in its operations and decision-making processes.

In addition to the altercation, a report by the consultancy Forbes Kirby has raised concerns about Ms. Button’s conduct during her tenure as a KAC director. The report states that while holding directorship at Kariyarra, Ms. Button was issued a corporate credit card, which was later found to have been misused. Unauthorised transactions were detected by an accounting firm, prompting Ms. Button to reimburse the funds five days after the issue was brought to the board’s attention. Efforts to reach Ms. Button for comment were unsuccessful.

Julyardi Aboriginal Corporation acknowledged the incident but indicated that the boardroom dispute was primarily a matter for Kariyarra to address. A spokesperson for Julyardi said the organisation would review the findings outlined in the Forbes Kirby report and consult with its board before offering further comment.

The Western Australian Department of Communities, responsible for overseeing child protection services in the area, did not immediately confirm knowledge of the findings related to the credit card misuse. However, the department condemned the conduct captured in the video, stating that anti-social or violent behaviour is unacceptable, particularly for community leaders who are expected to act as role models.

Ms. Button was reportedly removed from the Kariyarra board in February 2020, shortly after the incident. The episode has drawn attention to governance and oversight challenges within Aboriginal corporations managing significant public funding and services for vulnerable populations.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.