Experienced company director Austin Taylor – who is also a Renewal SA board member – has been appointed for the duration of the three-month suspension of the board.

Maher last month suspended the board until December 4 when a controversial report emerged showing a general manager appointment had breached the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands code of conduct.

Conciliator Greg Rooney’s report was tabled in State Parliament criticising the appointment and saying a recruitment process was a “waste of $32,580 of APY and government funds”.

Maher said the board had been told Taylor was appointed administrator of the APY Executive Board during the period of the suspension, and he believed Taylor was in the process of writing to Aṉangu leaders and community members to provide further information.

“Above all, the main priority is that APY and its administration are working for the benefit of all Aṉangu,” he said.

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Maher first received a complaint in November last year about the recruitment process for a new general manager in the APY Lands and a resolution to reappoint Richard King into the role.

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A government spokesperson had previously said the decision to suspend the board followed “several concerning findings” by Rooney, revealed in the subsequent report.

“These related to an unsuccessful 18-month process to recruit a new APY General Manager, including non-disclosure of conflicts of interest, board members being placed in the position of voting on important decisions without all of the relevant information, and misleading statements being provided to the Minister,” the spokesperson said.

The APY Lands covers more than 100,000 square kilometres far north-west of South Australia, including multiple First Nations communities, and is governed by an executive board elected for three-year terms.

Taylor – who has 20 years’ experience in solvency management, insolvency administration, restructuring and turnaround – will be administrator until December 4. He is the founder and former managing partner for Meertens Chartered Accountants and a former member of the Flinders University executive committee and university council.

Taylor would have all the functions and powers of the APY board and must endeavour to advance the interests of Anangu at all times.

He expected Taylor would consult with the elected representatives during the period of suspension.

Taylor also has strong governance and risk management knowledge, holds Masters of Indigenous Knowledges and over many years had been actively involved in Aboriginal communities and organisations.

The appointment stems from conciliator Rooney’s report that alleged at a board meeting held on September 3, 2024, APY general manager Richard King put his own name forward for a further three-year term instead of two candidates unearthed by an independent recruiter.

His report said King did not declare a conflict of interest and did not remove himself from the meeting and, as the only candidate put forward, he was elected by the board.

King’s appointment as general manager on September 3 was found “constitutionally invalid” and Rooney directed that it be struck out, with an immediate recruitment process to be undertaken to fill the role.

In a statement previously released, King said he would step down after 12 years in the role, to return to Adelaide and be closer to family.

“There have been challenges during my tenure, but also significant achievements, and I remain proud of what has been delivered in partnership with Anangu,” the statement read.

“I had decided to step down in 2023, with the expectation that a recruitment process would be undertaken in 2024 to identify new leadership. However, when that process encountered difficulties, I agreed to stay on and provide stability.

“I acknowledge the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs’ decision to now suspend the executive board and appoint an administrator to oversee the recruitment of a new general manager.”