The Daintree Eco lodge, a pioneer eco-resort and spa was put into receivership today by the National Australia Bank (NAB) when Receivers KPMG were appointed today.

Owner Mr Terry Maloney advised The Newsport that "It is 'business as usual' with KPMG wanting to work with us and the NAB in negotiations with interested parties wanting to invest / purchase. Daintree Eco Lodgge & Spa continues to present true experiential travel experiences that can’t be found elsewhere".

He continued, "The NAB has been supportive over the last 18 months or so whilst we have been negotiating with potential parties to invest in our expansion plans.  But as they said “how long is a piece of string” and today moved the receivers in".

"The Federal Government and the NAB through its Reconciliation Action Plan were offered to fund the $3.6m that this small business invested into their Aboriginal Champions Program. The Program has been running for over 13 years, with about 120 participants and approx 60 outstanding stories of long-term employment, career choices, entrepreneurial business enterprises, home ownership etc. with the benefits of empowerment and independence from the welfare system".

Mr Maloney wrote to NAB chairman Cameron Clyne last week to ensure the bank and it's chairman personally understood the catastrophic ramifications of a total loss of the business and to ask them to consider implementing the NAB reconciliation action plan, which may give them  enough time to work through the problems.  "The NAB claims to have one of the best reconciliation action plans and corporate social responsibility programs around," Mr Maloney said. "I have never been able to get them to come and have a look at what we are doing here."

"Had the Government or NAB, decided the positive alternative, then beneficial outcomes to all involved and it’s potential would have grown and could have been “rolled out” to other Aboriginal communities in need.  Apart from the successful Aboriginal Champions Program the core business has incubated several Indigenous enterprises that are ready to employ another 80-100 Aboriginal people over the next few years.  This is in great contrast to the study completed showing $3.5b annually being wasted (Matthew Franklin, Chief Political Correspondent Australian). The core business, whilst small, has proved to be strong against a number of adversities. As recently as December, the Lodge was voted by consumers and the travel industry as “world’s leading eco resort and spa” at the prestigious “World Travel Awards” – the only Australian product to win in the world categories.

Mr Maloney said that Queensland Premier Campbell Newman had only written to him in January to congratulate him and his team on winning the World Travel Award for the world's best eco-spa.

"The Queensland government recognises tourism as one of the four economic pillars for our great state and is determined to get Queensland back to being Australia's number one tourist destination," Mr Newman wrote.  "I acknowledge the work and support of your staff and families, and the local Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal people, in putting the international spotlight on Queensland."


Mr Maloney said  that "The owners after investing 40 years of innovation into Australia’s tourism with the last 18 years and $30+ million into the Daintree region and community walk away with absolutely nothing".