The Australian Public Service (APS) is celebrating a landmark achievement: 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are projected to join the Senior Executive Service (SES) by the end of this financial year, according to a recent Service Report. While this marks a 3.3% representation milestone for First Nations people in senior roles, serious concerns about the legitimacy of such claims cast a shadow over the achievement.

The ongoing issue of Indigenous identity fraud, where individuals with no genuine ties to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities falsely claim Indigenous status for professional and financial gain, raises pressing questions about the validity of these APS figures.

SES100 and Cultural Representation

The SES100 initiative, launched in 2022 aims to diversify the APS by embedding cultural safety in recruitment and mentoring programs tailored to Indigenous employees, with participants supposedly being supported through the APS First Nations Unit, which works to promote a representative workforce. Public Service Commissioner Gordon de Brouwer called this achievement one of APS’s proudest moments and highlighted that such targets ensure accountability and reflect Australian society.

But can these numbers and public servants be trusted?

Because as the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council Chief Executive Nathan Moran recently pointed out in a fiery meeting with federal and state leaders, there is little enforcement of the three-part test for proving Aboriginality.

Moran argues that the test—requiring individuals to identify as Aboriginal, be recognised by the community and demonstrate descent—has often been bypassed… and the government’s tacit acceptance of “stat dec blackfellas” with no cultural ties to Indigenous communities undermines the authenticity of Indigenous representation in programs like SES100.

An Unenforced Standard (Why Indigenous Identity Fraud Thrives)

This issue has far-reaching consequences.

And as Moran suggests, without robust verification mechanisms individuals claiming Indigenous identity fraudulently not only erode the credibility of initiatives like SES100 but also siphon opportunities from genuine Indigenous people.

But this problem extends beyond the APS and the lack of enforcement affects government programs, grants and Indigenous procurement policies, for example, federal funding allocated to Indigenous businesses is at risk of being awarded to entities engaging in blakwashing or black cladding, further marginalising genuine Indigenous communities.

And Moran’s proposal for a “kinship council” of Aboriginal elders and leaders to vet claims of Indigenous identity highlights the urgent need for reform because such councils could restore integrity to Indigenous representation in public service, ensuring only those with legitimate cultural connections benefit from government initiatives.

What Is at Stake?

For initiatives like SES100 to succeed in advancing genuine representation, the APS and broader government must address these identity fraud concerns head-on.

And as Moran aptly put it, “No longer will people set up a corporation and start trading as an Aboriginal” if proper governance is enforced.

Because failure to act risks undermining not only the SES100 initiative but also broader reconciliation efforts… and genuine Indigenous leaders deserve a seat at the table, free from competition with fraudulent claimants.

Thus, by prioritising cultural integrity, Australia can achieve meaningful, rather than performative, representation for First Nations peoples.

So for now, the milestone of 100 Indigenous senior executives remains a hollow victory until these critical identity fraud concerns are addressed.