APY Lands chaos as boss disputes suspension
The leadership future of the state’s far north APY Lands is in doubt, less than a year after a major controversy rocked the organisation.
Governance issues continue at Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY), just five months after a new boss was appointed to steer the organisation after administration.
InDaily understands APY General Manager Trent Wilkinson was told by the APY board on May 1 that he had been suspended from the top job.
Suspending a general manager would have required a two-thirds majority vote at a board meeting. Whether a board meeting was held legally is disputed, and it is understood that board members have differing views on the suspension.
Wilkinson has engaged a lawyer regarding the suspension.
The APY Lands covers more than 100,000 square kilometres in the far north-west of South Australia, including multiple First Nations communities, and is governed by the executive board elected for three-year terms.
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Wilkinson was appointed as the APY general manager in December, after a tumultuous time when the APY board was suspended for three months, and an administrator was appointed.
The board was suspended after a damning report revealed the process to appoint Wilkinson’s predecessor, Richard King, breached the code of conduct.
Administrator Austin Taylor oversaw the appointment of Wilkinson, which at the time APY called “a renewed chapter” for the organisation.
Wilkinson had started in the new role on December 1, with an APY announcement saying he has more than three decades of experience working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia.
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His background spans Indigenous governance, land and heritage conservation, cultural tourism, enterprise development, remote program delivery and cross-cultural community engagement.
Wilkinson has also held senior roles with Indigenous organisations, including General Manager of Njanjma Aboriginal Corporation and Business Development Manager at Djabulukgu Association Incorporated (DAI), as well as program and project roles with the Northern Territory and Queensland governments.
A spokesperson for Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher said the government was aware of the latest leadership conflict.
“Whilst the government supports self-determination and appreciates the challenges of remoteness, we are seeking further information and advice on the current differences of views between the elected board and management,” the spokesperson said.
“Our priority remains the wellbeing of the APY Lands communities and we will continue to support the APY in its effective governance and statutory obligations.”
APY receives about $2 million in taxpayer funds annually for administration costs to meet its legislative requirements, the spokesperson said.
The $2 million is paid quarterly as reimbursement, and, at the time of writing, the government was still awaiting the most recent quarterly financial reports from APY staff before the latest funding balance could be paid.
Wilkinson was contacted for comment. The APY board was contacted for comment.
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