SA government flags APY Lands overhaul

The South Australian government will move to appoint an administrator to the remote APY Lands over concerns about its management.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ian Hunter said he hoped to amend legislation to suspend the executive board of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands.

Mr Hunter said he had grown increasingly concerned about the governance of the lands, which have had seven general managers since 2010.

APY chairman Bernard Singer has criticised the push to remove the board as "draconian", but Mr Hunter said the amendments were not intended to undermine the APY's right to manage its lands.

"A strong administration is necessary if the APY executive is to operate as an institution that is effective and accountable to the communities they represent," he said on Friday.

Opposition leader Steven Marshall has reportedly backed the amendment, which is set to be introduced in parliament next week.

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