Pandanus Group, a Queensland-based labour hire company controlled by Mumpara Group Holdings, has reportedly left creditors exposed to $1.7 million in debts after entering liquidation.

Mumpara Group Holdings describes itself on its LinkedIn page as a nationwide family of non-profit and profit-for-purpose companies that seeks to empower Indigenous families to "holistically" break the cycle of generational welfare dependency.

This publication recently revealed that Mumpara Group's director Peter Remfrey (also known as Peter Babui-Remfrey), had previously identified himself (in 2020) as "a proud Tiwi man of non-Indigenous descent", before, in early 2024, referring to himself as "a Tiwi man".

"I am a Tiwi Man," he wrote on LinkedIn. "I self-identify as a Tiwi man. I am accepted by my community - the Jikilaruwu Clan of Wurrumiyanga."

On social media, he posted a photo of himself swimming in a waterfall on Bathurst Island, captioned: "As I sat and talked to my ancestors in this sacred space, the journey became even clearer."

Mr Remfrey cites two letters supporting his claim to being a Tiwi man. One from February 5, 2024 stated: "P. Tumarripi Babui-Remfrey is of Aboriginal descent (Tiwi Islands)" and said he was applying for confirmation of Aboriginality from the Tiwi Land Council. The letter said he self-identified as Aboriginal and that he had been accepted by the Jikilaruwu clan. It was signed by eight Babui family members, including Elder Francisco Babui. A second letter, on April 16, 2024, repeated the claim of Aboriginal descent and was signed by five Jikilaruwu figures: Tiwi Land Council trustee Simon Peter Munkara, Valentine Puautjimi, Agnella Tipungwuti, John Benson Kelantumama, and Andrea Puautjimi.

The Tiwi Land Council says it has never issued Mr Remfrey a Certificate of Aboriginality.

Mr Remfrey is also the director of Pandanus Group and the managing director of Pandanus Workforce.

Liquidator B & T Advisory Travis Pullin told the Courier Mail that Pandanus Group's current known creditors were owed about $1.7 million.

"Approximately $1.5 million of this is owed to the Australian Taxation Office. The balance is to WorkCover and the Queensland Office of State Revenue," he said in a report first published 16 October.

According to documents lodged with the ASIC the company was involved in a restructuring plan for a 12-month period over 2023-24.

National Indigenous Times contacted Mr Remfrey and, noting that Pandanus Workforce is currently advertising for general labourers in Larrakeyah, Northern Territory, asked: To what extent will Pandanus Workforce continue to operate; what plans are in place to continue the Mumpara Group's mission to economically empower Indigenous families; and to what extent that mission will be impacted by the Pandanus Group's reported $1.7 million outstanding debt.

Mr Remfrey replied: "Please refer all media enquiries to the appropriate representatives."

According to ASIC Records, Peter Remfrey is the sole Director and Secretary of Pandanus Group Pty Ltd. The 100 per cent owner of Pandanus Group is Mumpara Holdings. ASIC records show that Mr Remfrey is the sole Director, Secretary and Shareholder of Mumpara Holdings.