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Transparency and accountability are the big issues in the A/BC elections

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

1n August 2011, former Incliru.1 High Comm.issioner Sujatha Singh took direct aim at the Australia India Business Council. (AIBC) in her address on the occasion of the 2S'h anniversary of the council.

1n an exa:aordinary attack, she expressed her frustration that the AIBC had not fulfilled its potentiaJ in "exponentially e:Kpanding the economic relationship" between loclia and Australia. She publidy asked for it " to transform itself to become a truly effective body'' and play a more important and representative role. She alluded to the fact drntitseemed obsessed with process rather dian focusing "on issues of substance''.

Singh conceded mac on its own, the NSW chapter was functioning well , so ir was apparent that her swipe was at the organisation's operations at the oationaJ level wh.ich are yet to be at par "with the most professional Business Councils in Australia and India". lndian d ip lomats rarely speak out in obfuscatory language and the audience certainly grasped (if not, gasped at!) die disappointment of the f-Iigh Commissioner and the timing, venue and importance of her message delivered right becween the eyes, at the organisation's AnnuaJ Dinner in the p r esence of an array of senior politicians and business folk.

If me former H igh Commissioner now Foreign Secretary and a well -respected diplomat, had co make chis speech again, do you think she would bave something different co say?

Th is was the question whidi ,vas asked co d1e major contenders for die posts of NationaJ Chair and Vice Chair for me AIBC National Election 2014.

lncumbent National Chair Dipen R Ltghani, who has been wid1 the AIBC for over four and a half years and irs National Cbair for two years, did not respond directly co this query, stressing instead on tbe achievemems of AlBC in the last 24 months. Rughani highlighted the achievements in forging doser relationships with partners in India such as me Pederation of Indian Chamber of 20 MAY (2) 2014

Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).

Contesting against Dipen Rughani for National Chair, is David Trench. David, based in Western Australia is Executive General Manager in charge of Market Development at Griffin Coal. He chose not co comment on the issue as he was not present at the function at which Sujatha Singh spoke, bur was keen to talk about how co set AIBC up for a stronger future.

Where born the contenders show a point of difference, is Dipen Rughani's insistence in having d1e right internal structures in p lace. "As we transitioned from the old unincorporated structure to the new company AIBC Ltd when J took over as the Chairman, the Board of Directors were keen to get o ur new o rganisational governance, processes and systems in place," he told fodian Link.

David on the other hand is keen co ger diings moving more quickly.

"Organisations that work in,varclly or spend more effort working it1 die organisation rather than 011 die organisation are limited in their ability to see the larger image mey portray Spending large amounts of time on process in attaining accountability and transparency w ithout considering tbe reasons and benefits of why, often leads co me organisation becoming "bogged" down and l osing their nimble ability of meeting their core objectives. le is one thing to state you are open for business, available fot· engagement, when you stand behind a closed door witli the lights off! Representative bodies are tl1ere to repr esent diei.r members, cbe viewpoints and die common agenda; to achieve this they need to engage their membership, communicate, and be ultimately mindful that d1e more engaged the membership the more tl1e agenda can evolve, so the organisation becomes sustainable".

Aspiring for the position of National Vice Chair is current AIBC NSW President Sheba Naodkeolyar. Nandkeo Lyar is a successful business owner in her own right and wanes co carry this over to AIBC to die natiooaJ level. She is keen for AIBC ational Direccors to demonstrate accountabili ty, integrity, transparency, inclusion , teamwork and passion for the AustraliaIndia business relationship "J\li Direccors need to reflect the above and while the members have declined rapidly in one particular s tate, the rest of the stares have ooc had any such issues," she said. " The membership will grow rapidly if d1e above values are foUowed"

''AIBC I SW has been ac the forefront in terms of transparency, policy engagement and member i1:i.itiati ves, and I am trul y pleased with the AIBC NSW Chapter," andkeolyar added. "If I were to cairn on a national role, I would strive to ensure diac all state chapters operate like the AIBC NSW, in a transparent and inclusive manner. The AIBC websi te wh.ich is meant to have aU information listed publidy about die state chapters, will demonstrate ch is".

Wanting co enter d1e team at d1e national level as Vice Chair is Gautan1 Gupta from Viccocia. A co Lmcillor at one of the fastest growing local cOLmcils, W yndham in Viccoria, Gupta is scathing in his comments about d1e current \\'orkings of die i\JBC. He feels that it has failed, and hi s experience is that both membership and revenue for AIBC have declined. In 2012, d1ere were 541 eligible voters and th.is has dropped to 49 1 in 2014, he claims. "Instead of AIBC growing, we are going backwards " , he observed.

Gupta also alleges that monies are being spenr witbouc correct procedures and he is keen co bring in ethical standards chat will transform me wa y AIBC conducts business by connecting business, goverrunent and communities. ' 'ln doing so I will use Australian etl1ical standards," Gupta noted.

Gupta's allegations of financial irregularities are strongly denied by cu.rrent National Chair Dipen Rughani.

"The AIBC board full y documents our meeting minutes and decisions of the board," stated Rugbani. ''The approved minutes are on our members -only section for all financial members co view We have also uploaded our audited financ ials for 2011 and 2012 for our members to view. i\s far as the board is concerned, tl1ere are no financiaJ irregularities, n:i.ismanagement or infighting. T he members after recommendations from the board ac the 2013 AGM have allocated a very reputable firm in Mann Judd to audit our accounts. \Ve are looking forward ro their report for 2013, which will be made available to our members as soon as it iR approved".

Not willing co let this go, Gupta claims that for the year ending December 2013, AIBC's audited annual returns are still not available even though we are already into May 2014 "Even the 2012 returns were prov ided only recently after man y emru.ls," he added.

He bas his own vision of what needs tO be d o ne o n creating g reater transparencies and accow1tability in AIBC.

"Ir is important that a membershi p- based o rganisation treats all its members with respect," Gupta noted. ''That means, making sure all 111.UJuces are made available. There needs to be registers i:naincained co explain bow we spend close co half a million dollars on admin and travel It is n or good enough cl1at the financials are nor audited in time and hence not available for scrutiny. If any execu tive is, or bas the potential to use JUBC links for personal gain, then there must be a system to question, and if possible, co sack chem. This happens ar all levels of government in Australia and I see no reason why it should not be a standard we should aspire co. Furthermore, it is important co separate personal offices from AIBC offices. There are a few .incidences where AIBC is operating out of personal/private businesses of office holders, where payments have been made to office bearers to render services without any render process. This must stop Business oppornm.iries muse be shared with all members and they should be encouraged to participate in the process without favour of fear"

Regarding Singh's comments, he said, "I am nor sure of what information she will have roday, now char she is not in the countr y to observe the situation ac hand. However if she was disappoinced then, s he should be terrified now The need for transformation has never been g re.'lter. We are almost at the end of our bandwidth where inaction wi Uonly serve to b r ing dis repute to our industry and businesses.

Tin1e for ethical transforruation is nmv. ft also highlights an issue to no r have half of the National Executive from a single state. This will come at a cost to its national idenriry".

Looking at how Business Councils of narions such as China and Israe l work in Australia, J\IBC is way behind and little seems tO have been done co take advice of tl1e former High Commissioner. _Membership of AIBC bas stagnated , sponsorships are down , state- based differences are limiring cl1e growth, and where the lndiaAustral.ia telarionship is growing, it seems co be more organic rather than through the AIBC's s ubstanrial promotion.

Witl1 Dipen Rughani, David Trench , Raja Jara and Sarabjeet Singh contesting the post of

National Cbair, and Sheba Nandkeolyar, Gautam Gupta, RajaJata and Da vid Trench contesting for the position of National Vice Chair, ballot papers of the 490-odd m e mbers of AIBC need ro be in by 2June.

There seems co be no d earth of passion by the contestants; the challenge will be for the victors co maintain the rage in a positive way as 2014 is shaping up to be a crucial year for the Australia-India business relationship. A change in government in India and the inclination by the Abbott govemmenc to build on tl1e Labor government's initiatives witb lnd.ia can provide a p o·werful momentum to consolidate AIBC's position as a premier Business Council in Australia. If they fail to do so, tl1e damage will be severe.

''In an extraordinary attack, the former Indian High Commissioner to Australia Sujatha Singh expressed her frustration that the AIBC had not fulfilled its potential in "exponentially expanding the economic relationship" between India and Australia www.longmanstudios.com.au