National Trust of South Australia CEO promised to ‘destroy’ rival group, inquiry hears
Posted Tue 8 Sep 2026 at 6:09amTue 8 Sep 2026 at 6:09amTue 8 Sep 2026 at 6:09am
In short:
The former head of the National Trust of South Australia promised to ‘destroy’ a rival organisation, a parliamentary inquiry into the Trust has heard.
The claims were made under parliamentary privilege on Monday by ex-History Trust CEO Greg Mackie.
What’s next?
The next hearing is on Monday 14 September.
The former head of the National Trust of South Australia (NTSA) promised to “destroy” a rival organisation, a retired senior public servant alleges.
A parliamentary inquiry into the NTSA also heard the not-for-profit attempted to “stack” a dissident branch with more favourable members.
The claims were made on Monday by ex-History Trust CEO Greg Mackie, a former Adelaide City councillor and SA Premier department chief.
Committee urged to ‘interrogate’ departure
Under parliamentary privilege, Mr Mackie urged the committee to probe the departure of Darren Peacock, who led the NTSA from 2015 to 2022.
In 2021, the pair clashed when the Marshall government turfed out the NTSA from its Ayers House headquarters to make room for the History Trust – a move the current Labor government reversed.
Mr Mackie alleged that in a 2016 meeting, Mr Peacock “made it abundantly clear that it was his intention to destroy the History Trust and to secure its government funding”.
“The circumstances surrounding the departure of Dr Peacock as CEO, and his legendary inability to successfully cultivate relations with its branch volunteer committees is now well-evidenced,” Mr Mackie said.
“I encourage this committee inquiry to interrogate the circumstances surrounding his departure from the organisation and the related legal costs which are relevant to the current financial predicament that the National Trust now faces.
“Both the History Trust and National Trust ought to have been strong allies … given our complementary missions.”
The ABC made several attempts to contact Mr Peacock for a response to the comments.
‘Hostile takeover’ claim
Mr Mackie also suggested the NTSA “fails to appreciate the fundamental importance of its hundreds of volunteers” after it attempted to take over running the Moonta Mines Heritage Precinct earlier this year.
Despite both parties brokering a legal settlement, Mr Mackie alleged the NTSA was trying to undermine local leaders.
“The current CEO and another officer of the National Trust have been working the phones trying to persuade members to temporarily transfer their membership to the Moonta branch, so as to effect a branch stack and therefore legally remove the current branch committee,” he alleged.
Mr Mackie refused to divulge his sources but “encouraged the inquiry to test [the allegation]”.
“All I could say is that it’s not uncommon in membership-based organisations for there from time-to-time to see hostile takeovers,” he said.
He declined to make further comment outside the hearing.
In a response, the Trust said “out of respect for the ongoing inquiry, [it] does not believe it is appropriate to comment on specific claims”.
Nicolette di Lernia, the current CEO, was absent from the hearing on sick leave.
‘Sever financial constraints’: Trust
The Trust, which owns dozens of historical properties, is fighting to plug a $300,000 financial deficit and last week said it had begun an “organisational review” to identify ones for sale.
Mr Mackie said state governments have been “happy to offload” property onto the NTSA but “there has been little or no provision of funds for maintenance”.
NTSA council members Millie Nicholls and Jo Lokan said they would consult branches and the Heritage Minister Emily Bourke before selling any of its $57 million portfolio.
Ms Nicholls said the charity lost its government funding in 2010, which was partly to blame for its money woes, while dealing with “increased preservation costs” and an “aging volunteer workforce”.
“Our sustainability moving forward is to invest in our young people, but also, our older people are our storytellers and they’re the people we can’t lose,” Ms Lokan said.
The next hearing is on Monday 14 September.