Former APY board members say they feel they were shut-out of recruitment process before reappointment of controversial general manager Richard King

A group of former APY Lands board members say they feel they were shut-out of the recruitment process in the lead-up to the reappointment of a controversial general manager.

A group of former APY Lands board members say they were shut-out of the recruitment process in the lead-up to the reappointment of controversial general manager Richard King.

The group have raised concerns over a lack of transparency and thrown their support behind calls from MLC Frank Pangallo for an independent investigation into the selection process.

But the current board maintains the process was thorough and lawful.

Former APY board member Trevor Adamson. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

APY Lands general manager Richard King.

In a statement to The Advertiser, the former members said they had agreed to appoint a recruitment agency in March 2023 – but their resolution was not acted upon until February 2024.

They said the delay meant that a new general manager was not appointed until after APY board elections were held in August.

The statement was signed off by Murray George, Willy Pompey, Owen Burton, Trevor Adamson, Sharon Ah Chee and Karina Lester.

All are former board members except Mr Burton, who was re-elected at the recent poll.

The group said they were told Mr King was not seeking reappointment to the $200,000/year role and had not submitted an application.

They also said 28 applications were received by the recruitment agency but a shortlist of seven was formed without their consultation.

“We, the former APY executive board, are concerned about the lack of transparency around this process, that we were not engaged fully,” they said.

“These were raised to the board chair and the recruitment agency directly.”

An APY spokesman said the former board met seven times between March and the time of the August election.

“Recruitment of the general manager was a standing item at each meeting, with presentations from the recruitment agency keeping the board fully informed,” he said.

“Despite these efforts, the recruitment did not progress.”

He said the decision of the new board to ultimately reappoint Mr King was lawful and “made in the best interests of APY”.

“We recognise that some former disgruntled board members, who were not re-elected through a democratic process run by the Electoral Commission of South Australia, may not agree with this decision,” he said.

Mr King, who was first appointed to the role in 2015, has previously lost multiple Supreme Court bids to halt investigations by the Ombudsman into his conduct.

In 2020, the Supreme Court quashed his bid to overturn the Ombudsman’s findings, which were critical of his conduct.

Last week, a government spokeswoman said Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher does not appoint the APY general manager, and his only role is to approve the terms and conditions of the contract.

Originally published as Former APY board members say they feel they were shut-out of recruitment process before reappointment of controversial general manager Richard King