Trent Wilkinson says that when he introduced himself to Peter Malinauskas on Rundle Street in the weeks preceding the South Australian election in March, the incumbent premier told the newly-appointed general manager of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjarain Lands he had inherited "the hardest job in the country".

Mr Wilkinson says the state Labor leader then offered his full support.

Key points:

• General Manager claims he was suspended following request for APY Lands financials, alleges millions mismanaged over the course of 15 years

• Executive board alleges new General Manager breached his contract

APY Lands is responsible for the management of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjarain lands, home to 3000 people living mostly in its seven remote electorates in far northwest SA. The outback region's 103,000 sq km equates to 10 per cent of the state's total land mass.

Led by incumbent chair Bernard Singer, a 14-member executive board has the task of running APY Lands and managing its vast territory.

The organisation was established by an Act of South Australian Parliament, and the leadership of the organisation is elected through a process independently run by the state's electoral commission.

The exit of Mr Wilkinson's predecessor as APY's General Manager, Richard King - who held the role for 10 years - followed an independent report from federal conciliator Greg Rooney - prompted by ongoing board dysfunction and transparency issues - found the reappointment for another three-year term in 2024 had breached APY code of conduct rules, while entrenched governance issues had hindered economic progress for the Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara and Ngaanyatjarra peoples.

Mr Rooney's report noted the board and related agencies had suffered instability and loss of local control since 2010, due to governance, capability and regulatory oversight.

In late November, SA police raided the APY Lands offices in Umuwa, removing boxes of documentation and instructing staff to vacate the premises.

The raids came days after National Indigenous Times revealed a SA parliamentary inquiry examining governance and alleged corruption issues in APY Lands was stifled at the eleventh hour.

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

'Renewed chapter' promise allegedly broken

The appointment of Mr Wilkinson - a senior Indigenous governance and community development leader - as General Manager promised a "renewed chapter" for the APY Lands, with the board stating his "vast experience and ability to deliver community-led outcomes would underpin a stable, transparent and future-focused organisation".

Upon assuming the GM role in December, Mr Wilkinson declared he would focus on improving the wellbeing and wealth opportunities for APY people.

Another port of call high on his list was to long-time external APY accountant Christopher Tee - a director at Araluen Taxation Services - requesting financial statements for the 2024-2025 financial year, after senior APY leaders and Traditional Owners raised concerns up to $20 million of funding intended for communities had been allegedly misdirected.

National Indigenous Times does not suggest this figure, or the alleged misuse of the funds, has been confirmed.

Mr Tee was involved in an independent audit by Ernst & Young of APY's accounting policies and procedures for the 2014-2015 FY - instigated by the Department of State Development - and continues to provide bookkeeping, auditing and accounting services for APY and various regional and remote entities linked to the APY Lands, as well as reviewing local administrative contracts.

E&Y's subsequent review of APY Lands transactions found 10 examples of financial mismanagement requiring improvement, including:

- funding agreements and supporting documentation were insufficient in nature regarding key requirements;

- cash balance adjustments were not aligned with accepted accounting practices;

- a procurement framework and detailed fixed assets register were both not established;

- inconsistent records management processes; and

- employment contracts and awards were inconsistently applied.

Mr Wilkinson alleges he requested the most recent FY documents in January, but Mr Tee did not provide them to him until April 30.

The next day, Mr Wilkinson was stood down via an email from Mr Singer, the APY chair, informing his contract had been terminated due to 55 alleged complaints.

It prompted Mr Wilkinson to contact Mr Malinauskas, asking him to intervene, claiming financial arrangements in place during Mr King's tenure were still operating without proper authority, oversight or accountability.

"[They] have used their effective control of APY's finances, including the administration of sitting fees, allowances and salary payments, to exert considerable influence over Executive Board members and staff," Mr Wilkinson alleged in a letter to the SA Premier seen by National Indigenous Times.

"In my view, this has compromised the ability of some individuals to participate in governance decisions freely and independently," Mr Wilkinson wrote.

"The unlawful actions ... towards me have occurred simply because I made clear that I would not rubber stamp inflated contract renewal and/or allow the waste and harvesting of untied funds to consultants and lawyers to continue, of which I estimate to be around $20m over 15 years."

As an independent body, neither the Premier nor Minister for Aboriginal Affairs have ministerial discretion regarding appointments - or dismissals - at APY Lands.

Mr Wilkinson also rejected the 55 allegations of contract breaches, claiming an internal document issued on an APY letterhead "purportedly signed by the Chairperson" was presented as official communication of APY, "obviously used to obstruct me to perform and fulfil my statutory duties as general manager".

"[The letter] purported to record that the Executive Board had considered 55 complaints concerning my performance and conduct and had resolved, by at least a two-thirds majority, that those complaints justified my immediate suspension," he wrote to Mr Malinauskas.

"None of this occurred; representations contained in the document were knowingly false and created a purported basis ... sought to exclude me from my role.

"This was accompanied by claims the Chairperson had directed my exclusion, despite there being no Executive Board resolution under section 13M conferring upon the Chairperson the authority to take such action."

Mr Wilkinson alleged he was physically excluded from participating in the 12-14 May board meeting "through the agency of security guards".

"Premier, I remain in regular contact with most Executive Board members. Many have expressed genuine concern about recent events and the direction APY has taken ... respectfully, what has occurred is not an example of self-determination; it is a failure of governance," Mr Wilkinson wrote.

National Indigenous Times understands the Premier is yet to respond to the letter from Mr Wilkinson, or to senior APY leader and former board director Sharon Ah Chee, who says she informed the SA Premier on two occasions this year of the ongoing dysfunction between board and management, and requesting a meeting to discuss the matter.

This publication does not suggest any wrongdoing by any member or members of the current APY Lands board has been confirmed.

APY Chair responds

On Monday, the APY board provided a response to inquiries from National Indigenous Times.

"The Executive Board of the APY Lands confirm that Mr Michael Clinch has been appointed into the role of Interim General Manager as per APY Executive Board resolution passed on 11 May 2026," Mr Singer said.

"A seasoned and respected leader in the Indigenous sector, Mr Clinch has started working closely with Mr Rex Tjami, Director of Administration, the APY Executive Board, staff, key stakeholders, the South Australian Government and local Anangu communities.

"The APY Executive Board is highly mobilised to deliver the best possible outcomes for the more than 2500 people living on the APY Lands."

The Board restated its "continual and unwavering commitment to good governance and due process" in accordance with its statutory obligations under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (SA) 1981, maintaining its standard practices.

"The Board has remained adamant that the recent changes to the executive leadership were necessary to ensure full accountability and transparency, while safeguarding the viability, sustainability and future success of one of the most self-determined Aboriginal entities in Australia."

SA Government is 'seeking further information and advice'

Premier Malinauskas and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Kyam Maher were contacted for comment by National Indigenous Times.

An SA Government spokesperson said "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".

"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," the government spokesperson said.

"As clearly stated in the Legislation, the Minister does not appoint the General Manager, the General Manager is appointed by the Executive.

"Anyone with allegations around financial misuse should report them to the appropriate authorities."