Source : the age
Prominent Sydney Indigenous elder, businessman and advocate Mick Mundine has been arrested and charged over allegations of historical child sexual assault.
Mundine, who is chief executive of the Aboriginal Housing Company, was arrested on Thursday morning in Redfern and taken to Newtown Police Station, where he has been charged with sexual assault and indecency, and sexual assault on a person under 16 years old.
The 79-year-old was questioned for several hours over alleged historical sexual assaults on a then 15-year-old girl in Redfern in June 1986. A strike force was established in December 2025 to investigate the allegations.
He was granted police bail and will face Downing Centre Local Court next Wednesday. Speaking outside court, his lawyer Fahim Arya said he would fight the charges.
Mundine is the brother of legendary boxer Tony Mundine OAM, who died in August, and uncle to Anthony Mundine, Tony’s son, a former professional rugby league player and boxer. He is also related to political strategist, businessman and former politician Warren Mundine.
Mundine is a Bundjalung man from Baryulgil in northern NSW. He has worked in the Redfern community for decades and has been the chief executive of the Aboriginal Housing Company for most of its 53-year history.
The company completed construction on the controversial $70-million Pemulwuy Project on Redfern’s The Block in 2023 following decades of opposition. In 2015, opponents clashed with developers, arguing the project engaged in “social cleansing” of the area and promoted gentrification, establishing an Aboriginal Tent Embassy on the site.
Mundine has also held directorships in the Aboriginal Medical Service and the Redfern Aboriginal Corporation.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491. For crisis support, contact Lifeline 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au.
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Amber Schultz is a crime and justice reporter with The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.
