The Indigenous Business Integrity Register (IBIR) has closed less than 11 months after its launch, as the Commonwealth prepares to appoint a provider for its strengthened Indigenous business verification system.
Ken Wyatt, chair of the Indigenous Business Council (IBC), announced the closure on 21 September, attributing the decision to attacks from within the sector and what he described as “institutional inaction” by the Commonwealth.
In a statement reported by the National Indigenous Times (NIT), Wyatt said the attacks had caused “irreparable damage to the credibility and integrity” of the register, the council and IBIR founder Gerry Matera.
Matera launched the fee-for-service register in October 2025 to address concerns about “black cladding”, where a business presents itself as Indigenous to gain access to procurement opportunities without genuine Indigenous ownership or control.
According to NIT, the closure statement did not say how many businesses had paid for verification or whether fees would be refunded.
Wyatt said IBIR – which moved under the IBC in June this year – was designed to help buyers examine who owned, controlled and benefited from a supplier.
The IBC confirmed businesses that had received IBIR verification retain that status and urged procurement teams to continue recognising it.
However, the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) previously told NIT that the Commonwealth did not recognise IBIR verification under the Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP).
Aboriginal business chambers had also raised concerns about IBIR’s model, with National Indigenous Business Chambers Alliance chair Naomi Anstess saying: “The goal is right, but the governance model is wrong.”
At launch, NIT reported that IBIR used AI technology and external accountants and auditors in its verification process, with Anstess arguing that decisions about Aboriginal business identity required cultural authority and should remain under Aboriginal control.
The closure comes as Commonwealth requirements shift, with the strengthened IPP definition taking effect on 1 July 2026, requiring an enterprise to be at least 51 percent First Nations owned and controlled, or registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations.
Transitional arrangements for 2026-27 also allow businesses meeting the previous threshold of at least 50 percent Indigenous ownership to access the policy while the new verification service is established.
Tenders closed on 18 September for a provider to verify businesses against the strengthened criteria and maintain an online registry.
NIAA has extended Supply Nation’s existing contract for 12 months to support the transition and says it will provide further guidance on verification after selecting a provider.
