A South Australian parliamentary inquiry examining governance and alleged corruption issues in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands has been halted at the eleventh hour.

The move on Wednesday to shut down the inquiry, set to be conducted by the eight members of SA's Budget and Finance Committee, was described as politically motivated, with allegations Aboriginal Affairs minister Kyam Maher helped stifle the probe, with support from the Greens and a crossbencher.

While Liberal MLC Frank Pangallo alleged ALP members Reggie Martin and Russell Wortley, Greens MP Robert Simms and independent MP Tammy Franks halted Friday's meeting to avoid scrutiny of Minister Maher and the Aboriginal Affairs department, the four MPs say committee members wanted to hear from APY Executive Board administrator Austin Taylor - a government appointee - before proceeding.

A Budget and Finance Parliamentary briefing note seen by National Indigenous Times detailed some of the inquiry's scope, including allegations of corruption, maladministration, and constitutional irregularities in the governance of the APY Lands.

The APY board was suspended in August due to governance concerns detailed in a report by conciliator Greg Rooney, which were first raised by Mr Pangallo.

It is not the first time Mr Maher has been caught in the crossfire of a cancelled inquiry, with the politician opposed to a 2021 governance inquiry into Aboriginal spending across SA, before he axed the Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee soon after Labor came to power in 2022.

Mr Maher did not respond to the allegations, and refused to be drawn on the inquiry not proceeding on Friday as expected.

"These would appear to be matters for the committee," a spokesperson for the Aboriginal Affairs minister said.

Mr Pangallo said quashing the inquiry meant disadvantaged people of the APY Lands had "nowhere to turn for help".

"This was a deliberate, politically-motivated move to avoid any scrutiny of [Minister] Maher and his department before the 2026 election," Mr Pangallo alleged.

"These disadvantaged people have nowhere to turn for help... not even Parliament, because Mr Maher shut down the only other standing committee they could have gone to."

The briefing note was scathing of the APY Lands' governance.

"Serious concerns have emerged regarding the integrity, legality, and effectiveness of governance arrangements in the APY Lands," it said.

"Evidence points to systemic dysfunction, financial mismanagement, and potential corruption involving senior officials, advisers, and publicly funded agencies responsible for administering the region."

A governance breakdown meant the APY Executive Board and related agencies had suffered chronic instability and loss of local control since 2010.

"Initial reforms that strengthened housing, land tenure, and service delivery have collapsed under political and bureaucratic interference," the briefing note said.

"The appointment of administrators under the 2005 amendments to the APY Land Rights Act may be constitutionally invalid, concentrating power in ministerial hands at odds with the principle of Aboriginal self-determination."

Corruption and mismanagement was to be alleged, including unexplained legal expenditures exceeding $1.2 million over two years, reportedly used to suppress internal dissent and avoid scrutiny.

Allegedly conflicted appointments of administrators and advisers linked to government or political offices were also raised, with "outside interests displacing local authority and accountability".

Opaque financial reporting and consistent refusal by agencies to release documents relating to the use of public funds were also part of the inquiry's scope.

Years of administrative breakdown had led to social and economic issues for the APY people, whose residents described violence, despair, and neglect in the years following.

"Essential services, particularly housing, employment, and health, have deteriorated amid ongoing governance failures," the briefing note said.

"Many respected local leaders and community members have been sidelined or silenced, eroding confidence in local representation."

Legal and constitutional concerns included current administrative arrangements potentially being unconstitutional, but in force until challenged.

"This raises serious questions about the lawfulness of ministerial intervention and the rights of APY communities to genuine self-governance," the briefing note said.

It urged the suspension of questionable administrative arrangements pending the outcome of investigations, and restoring transparent, accountable, and locally-led governance models.

"Taxpayers have a right to transparency in how funds are spent in the APY Lands," it concluded.

"Parliament has a responsibility to restore lawful, transparent administration that respects both Aboriginal self-determination and the rule of law."

Following an address from the State First Nations Voice to a joint sitting of Parliament on Thursday, Mr Maher announced he would be commencing steps to legislate for a state-based treaty and truth-telling commission, but he couldn't tell Parliament whether reparations or redress of some kind would be made, or when it was likely to be in place.