APY Lands, Governance

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:06): I seek to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation questions about continuing governance issues on the APY lands.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: It was pleasing to hear of the progress being made on these issues from the minister in his statement to the chamber on Tuesday, and I commend him on his commitment to working through these issues. It seems that many chief executives in the past have been removed under mechanisms in their contracts which allow the APY Executive to review their appointment after a period of probation.

The minister has placed a number of minimum standards on the APY Executive which are to be achieved over an extended period of time with strong guidance, support and assistance to the new CE Mr Richard King. My questions to the minister are:

1. Does Mr King have a period of his probation attached to his contract?

2. What are the specifics of his contract in terms of permanency?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:07): I thank the honourable member for his question. He is quite right; there have been problems with the tenure of general managers, and that has made it more difficult. It is important in all sorts of areas but in this area in particular for general managers to be able to rigorously and without fear apply policies in the knowledge that they can do so without retribution of any form.

My understanding is that Mr King has been appointed an interim general manager for a fixed term of three months. This is my understanding, but I will check that and bring back a reply if that is not correct. During that time the APY will be conducting a thorough search for an ongoing and permanent general manager. I have certainly had discussions with the APY previously about what a mechanism might, for instance, include. Under the legislation the APY Executive appoints the general manager but the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs must approve the terms and conditions.

I have had discussions with the APY about when the new ongoing general manager is appointed perhaps looking at a mechanism that also requires the minister to end a contract in the same way as the minister is required to approve the terms and conditions. I have spoken to the APY about some sort of mechanism to prevent a general manager from acting with fear and favour and, as they go through the process of now looking for the ongoing permanent, I will continue to discuss with the APY mechanisms to make sure that happens in a better way.