National Trust volunteers treated 'like servants', inquiry hears
The chair of the Moonta branch of the National Trust of SA has told a parliamentary inquiry the charity lacked respect for its volunteers.
A parliamentary inquiry into the National Trust of South Australia (NTSA) has heard complaints that the charity treats its volunteers like servants, requiring tighter government oversight. The Moonta committee members were sacked during a dispute with the NTSA, which closed the Moonta Mines Heritage Precinct in February after months of disagreements.
The local committee was re-instated last month, but the incident highlighted tensions within the charity, which oversees over 80 historically significant sites across the state. NTSA's Moonta branch chair Sharron Ward told the inquiry the organization showed a lack of respect for its volunteers, comparing them to "lords of the manor" and "servants".
The NTSA's head office only provided committee details about alleged compliance breaches three weeks after the sacking, despite Ward stating these actions assumed the breaches were accurate without investigation. The Moonta branch seeks autonomy, including more control over their properties and finances, while retaining the National Trust name.
The National Trust Act, last updated in 1955, lacks clear guidelines on the charity's operations. The inquiry also examined whether NTSA should seek ministerial approval before selling assets, and whether people should be able to file ombudsman complaints about the organization.
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