Board Given Seven Days to Answer Confidence Question as Governance Concerns Remain Under Scrutiny
South Australia’s National Trust board has been given seven days to reveal whether it has complete confidence in its chief executive after board representatives declined to answer the question during the latest public hearing of a parliamentary inquiry.
The inquiry was established to examine concerns about the National Trust’s governance, how its heritage assets are managed, and the role of volunteers and regional communities in the organisation.
Board Asked to Declare Confidence in CEO
National Trust SA chief executive Nicolette Di Lernia had been invited to give evidence at Monday’s public hearing, but advised the Environment, Resources and Development Committee on Friday that she was on sick leave and unavailable for questioning.
When the Trust’s president and vice-president were asked whether they had complete faith in the organisation’s chief executive, they chose to take the question on notice rather than answer it during the hearing.
In a radio interview with Chris Guscott on Monday, committee chair Jayne Stinson said the inquiry hoped to hear from National Trust chief executive Nicolette Di Lernia at a later date. The National Trust board is expected to respond to the question on notice within seven days, while a third hearing is expected to take place early next week.
Questions Over Governance Review
Ms Stinson said during the latest hearing, the National Trust Board was also questioned about a governance review announced last Thursday.
“The committee found out about it through media reporting on Friday, so there were naturally a lot of questions about the timing, and exactly what that would entail.”
She said the board indicated the review would take several months and would examine matters including the organisation’s assets, how branches are established and whether any reforms were needed.
“They opened their address saying that there was nothing wrong with the current National Trust Act and they didn’t feel that any changes needed to be made,” Ms Stinson said.
Renmark Branch Speaks Out
The inquiry also heard from the Renmark National Trust branch, which indicated it was looking to leave the National Trust and raised concerns about how it had been treated by the Adelaide-based executive.
Shadow Minister for Environment Nicola Centofanti said the day’s evidence had reinforced the need for the parliamentary inquiry.
“The evidence from the National Trust administration today was noticeably defensive – about the parliamentary inquiry itself and about the criticism coming from branches. The Committee’s job is to ask difficult questions, particularly when concerns about governance, finances and relationships have been raised.”
Ms Centofanti said the hearing highlighted broader issues facing the organisation.
“I think today’s evidence reinforced why this parliamentary inquiry is necessary. There are clearly significant issues around relationships, governance and financial sustainability, and our focus has to be on ensuring South Australia’s heritage is properly protected for generations to come.”
We’ve been following this inquiry from the beginning. Read our previous stories here.
