APY Executive Board

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:51): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs on the APY Executive Board.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: A media release issued yesterday on 8 March by the APY Council of Elders stated, and I quote:

This week the Minister directed, after being contacted by the two-thirds majority Executive Board with their concerns, that the Executive must meet before 17 March 2023.

At the direction of the South Australian Attorney-General and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, an APY Executive Board Meeting has been called in Adelaide to resolve important governance issues, including the position of General Manager of APY.

The media release then goes on to say:

An Executive Board Meeting in Adelaide is in breach of the APY Land Rights Act S12—'Meeting to be open to all Anangu'.

Adelaide is Kaurna land and it is disrespectful to bring confrontational Anangu business onto their land. Totally inappropriate. Anangu business must be conducted on Anangu land with all Anangu able to attend and contribute to the meeting.

My question to the minister is: can the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs please explain why he has intervened and directed the APY Executive Board to attend a meeting in Adelaide next week?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:52): I thank the honourable member for her question. I can let her know it is completely and utterly and absolutely false that I have directed a meeting to be held in Adelaide. I certainly have not.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Wortley! The honourable Deputy Leader of the Opposition, what is your supplementary question?