The government should immediately appoint an administrator to fix financial and governance issues on the APY Lands following the resignation yesterday of acting general manager Lesley Johns, the State Opposition says.

Opposition Aboriginal Affairs spokesperson Duncan McFetridge said new Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher should appoint an administrator, using powers the government rushed through parliament last year, to “provide stability”.

In December, the Opposition voted with the Government to pass an amendment to the APY Land Rights Act, allowing the minister to suspend the executive board and appoint an administrator “for any reason he or she thinks fit”.

“Despite this legislation being urgently rushed through Parliament, we are yet to see any progress,” said McFetridge.

“This has been an ongoing disaster and the issues need to be sorted out.”

McFetridge said Maher should suspend the APY elections – due under the Act in May – for at least 12 months, and appoint an administrator without sacking the executive board.

“The minister can suspend the elections under the electoral act – that’s my understanding,” McFetridge told InDaily.

“The current executive should stay in place, but under the guidance of an administrator.

“For the administrator to get good feedback on what’s going on, he should be dealing with the people that are there now so they can explain their side of the story.”

However, the Act appears to only allow an administrator to be appointed “if the executive board is suspended”.

McFetridge said the State Government had to take some responsibility for the financial and governance problems which have plagued the APY administration.

“Right back to Premier (Jay) Weatherill, when he was (Aboriginal Affairs) minister, there was a complete failure to ensure proper governance on the lands,” said McFetridge.

“There are a lot of issues on the APY Lands that should have been sorted out a long time ago.”

Maher said he was “not opposed” to using the power, and would not rule out using it before the APY elections – “however, I would prefer to reach a consensus position with the APY”.

“My Department and I are working with the APY to find a new general manager,” he said.

“The way forward for the APY must represent a clear break from the past, and signal a restoration of confidence in the APY executive board.

“The higher accountability and transparency provisions required by the State Government are a demonstration of the willingness of the APY to work with us to improve their practices.”

McFetridge pledged to work in a “bi-partisan” manner with the government on APY Lands issues.

Greens MLC Tammy Franks, who opposed the amendment to the Act, said appointing an administrator now would be counterproductive.

“Given the new minister has entered into an agreement with stricter financial controls and is working constructively with Anangu, an administrator at this point isn’t the solution,” she said.

“I would hope that good governance structures now will be continued, that now we will see a robust election and that Anangu will step up to the leadership roles themselves, with support from government.

“The time for an administrator was probably a year ago. Now we have a new situation.

“If an administrator were immediately appointed, I’m not sure what the implications there are for the next round of elections.

“Any funding that is given to Aboriginal-controlled bodies that APY is currently accessing may be put in danger.”

Yesterday, InDaily revealed an internal report which said the APY Administration had not produced an overall budget in “a number of years” and had “no idea of its current financial position”.

The State Government last week restored some funding to the APY executive board after more than $1 million was withheld from it over eight months.

Photo: Nat Rogers/InDaily (file)