APY Lands community members disappointed after delay into hearing on governance
Sharon Ah Chee and Tim Agius say they are both disappointed the hearing was cancelled. (ABC News)
In short:
A committee, made up of MPs from all sides of politics, was due to hear from Voice to Parliament representatives and concerned residents earlier this month.
Community members, including an elder who had already travelled 15 hours for the hearing, were told the day before it would not be going ahead.
What's next?
The hearing has been postponed indefinitely.
Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands community members have been left disappointed by a last-minute decision to halt a hearing that was set to probe governance issues in the region.
State parliament's Budget and Finance committee, made up of MPs from all sides of politics, was due to hear from Voice to Parliament representatives and concerned residents earlier this month.
But the witnesses were told the day before the hearing — after some had driven from the APY Lands — that it had been postponed indefinitely.
One committee member has now alleged MPs voted to stall the hearing to avoid concerns being aired publicly.
But those who agreed to the postponement argued the committee was not an appropriate forum for the community members to speak out, and the MPs should instead hear from the APY administrator.
A new December date for the hearing has now been proposed but the original witnesses would not be included.
Detectives from SA Police's Anti-Corruption branch last week carried out several raids on APY Lands premises, including the administration offices in Umuwa.
The APY Lands are located in South Australia's remote far north-west. (Supplied: Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape Board)
Police said the searches related to an ongoing investigation, but gave no further detail.
The ABC does not suggest a link between the raids and evidence to be given at the hearing.
Witness 'travelled 15 hours'
A briefing note prepared for the committee by Liberal MLC Frank Pangallo, obtained by the ABC, flagged evidence relating to governance and administration.
"Serious concerns have emerged regarding the integrity, legality and effectiveness of governance arrangements in the APY Lands," the note said.
"Accountability and integrity must extend to every level of government, without exception.
"Parliament has a responsibility to restore lawful, transparent administration that respects both Aboriginal self-determination and the rule of law."
Anangu elder Sharon Ah Chee, from the community of Pukatja, was one of those who was due to give evidence and said she was "very disheartened" to learn the hearing would not go ahead.
Sharon Ah Chee said she had travelled a long way to contribute. (ABC News)
"I'd travelled 15 hours to get down here to attend and present to this committee, only to be told it was cancelled," she said.
"We thought this would be our way to get somebody to finally listen to us. Unfortunately, that didn't happen."
Ms Ah Chee said she intended to raise issues concerning the administration with the committee, but said with the administration due to end next month, she feared her concerns would be less relevant.
She had also planned to ask that the APY's finances over the past decade be referred to the state's Auditor-General for review.
Tim Agius had wanted to take part and share his views. (ABC News)
Kaurna elder Tim Agius, who lives in Adelaide, was also on the witness list and had planned to raise broader issues relating to Aboriginal affairs.
He said the decision to delay the hearing "doesn't make sense".
"They could have still met with Anangu and then met with the administrator after Anangu," he said.
"Anangu want to know how their communities, how their country and how all the associated business with APY and Anangu are being managed."
Hearing deferred
The ABC has been told Mr Pangallo — along with fellow Liberal committee members Heidi Girolamo and Michelle Lensink — did not back the push to delay the hearing.
Other members of the committee are Labor MLCs Reggie Martin and Russell Wortley, Greens MLC Robert Simms and independent MLC Tammy Franks.
Mr Pangallo said the delay was an attempt to stop witnesses from airing their concerns.
"When it was put off, my phone ran hot with angry members of the APY community frustrated that they were being silenced yet again," he said.
"Deferring the hearing is just kicking the can down the road. I'm sure they'll find another reason for these people not to appear before our committee."
Frank Pangallo said he had received calls from concerned community members. (ABC News: Marco Catalano)
But Ms Franks said the community members never should have been invited to appear – and encouraged them to instead write to the committee outlining their concerns.
"Budget and Finance committee doesn’t have jurisdiction to hear from individual members of the public," she said.
"None of the people that were being called before us would have been given parliamentary privilege for their evidence and no protections could have been afforded to them. That's of concern to me."
Ms Girolamo, the committee chair, said the postponement was disappointing.
"It is deeply concerning that the APY Aboriginal communities are being denied the opportunity to raise their voices to the committee," she said.
"APY community members have been raising concerns for some time, and many have now contacted us directly."
Heidi Girolamo said the outcome was disappointing. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher said the delay was a matter for the committee, which he had not been a member of for several years.
Asked whether he hoped witnesses would have a chance to give evidence, he said there had been other occasions for them to speak out.
"Members of the APY community have had extraordinary opportunities over very recent times to put views about their circumstances," he said.
Mr Maher said it was "looking positive" for the three-month administration period to end on its planned completion date of December 4.
The APY Lands board and the administrator declined to comment.