SA parliament approves APY Lands overhaul

South Australia's government has voted to allow the appointment of an administrator to the remote APY Lands.

APY Lands intervention laws have passed in SA

APY Lands intervention laws have passed in SA.

South Australia has passed laws allowing the appointment of an administrator to remote traditional lands.

The lower house voted late on Thursday to allow the government to suspend the executive board of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands.

It comes amid concerns about the lands, which have had seven general managers since 2010.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ian Hunter this week came under fire from members of the upper house, who were "disgusted" by the lack of time they had been given to debate the legislation.

The bill was introduced in the final sitting week of parliament, giving stakeholders little opportunity to assess its merits.

Liberal and crossbench MLCs successfully moved a motion of no confidence against the minister for the second time this year.

It emerged during debate that it had been 14 months since Mr Hunter last visited the APY lands, having cancelled a planned visit in September for family reasons.

About 2500 people live on the APY lands in South Australia's far northwest.


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