‘Sacked’ indigenous manager Richard King refuses to go

APY Lands Council general manager Richard King, who was ‘sacked’ by an executive board member, has refused to leave.

APY Lands Council’s ‘sacked’ general manager Richard King. Picture: James Elsby

APY Lands Council general manager Richard King, who was “sacked” by an executive board member a month ago, has refused to leave South Australia’s remote self-governed Aboriginal lands amid ongoing turmoil.

Mr King, whose three-year contract expired this month, told The Australian he was continuing as general manager beyond the contract period as permitted under a clause to enable a proper handover or negotiations on a contract extension to continue.

“Therefore, I continue until a successful negotiation and consequent approval by the (Aboriginal Affairs Minister) within 28 days of contract settle,” Mr King said.

Premier Steven Marshall returned the Aboriginal affairs portfolio to his own department after winning government in March.

A spokeswoman for the Premier said Mr Marshall would not ­become involved.

“The government has advised the APY executive board that under the APY Land Rights Act, these are matters for the board to deal with,” the spokeswoman said.

“The Premier has been advised by the board that Richard King is still general manager.”

Mr King, as general manager of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, a region of more than 103,000sq km in SA’s far northwest, is paid $234,000 a year and his wife almost $210,000.

Their contracts are also understood to include daily travel allowances, travel to Adelaide every month, Qantas club membership, rented city office space and the “gifting’’ of a $120,000 Toyota LandCruiser.

The state and federal governments spend hundreds of millions of dollars a year on the region, home to about 2200 people.

Mr King last month sent out a notice to staff to announce that the APY board had resolved not to renew his contract. However, Mr King said the board did not have the numbers as required under the APY legislation and he would await a ministerial decision by the SA government.

Yesterday, Mr King said an intended three-year contract extension was resolved by the full board at an executive meeting in May.

“To retract that resolution requires a two-thirds majority and a list of reasons as outlined in the act,” Mr King said.

“Under section 13m, no individual member can direct, sack or strongarm me or any staff member unless their direction is complying with a valid resolution of the board. The majority of the board have agreed to enter into contract negotiations with me.”

Mr King commended the SA government for “staying out of APY affairs”.

“The reality is, I came to the APY Lands from a secure position at executive level in government to ensure good governance and I cannot leave the APY Lands unless good and correct governance is used to remove me according to the APY Land Rights Act,” he said.

The executive board’s deputy chair, Sally Scales, did not respond to requests for comment.

Mr King was appointed in 2015 after turmoil over dysfunctional gov­ernance and alleged financial mismanagement led to a turnover of seven general managers in four years.