South Australia becomes the first state to legislate First Nations Voice to parliament
Thousands cheered as South Australia became the first state to introduce a First Nations Voice to parliament.
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A crowd of thousands gathered on the steps of the South Australian parliament to witness the historic passage of the first state-based Voice to parliament.
On Sunday, the Bill passed through both the lower and upper house unopposed as thousands stood out in the rain to watch the momentous occasion.
The gloomy conditions did not deter the thousands of onlookers who cheered as the Bill’s passage was announced.
The festivities involved a performance by Aboriginal singer-songwriter Nathan May and smoking ceremony by Elder Moogy Sumber.
President of the Legislative Council, Terry Stephens, as well as Commissioner for the First Nations Voice Dale Agius, brought the bill before the South Australian Governor, Frances Adamson, for assent.
“It is my pleasure as South Australia’s 36th governor to give assent to the First Nations Voice Bill 2023,” she said.
“Today I restate my commitment to supporting recognition in our state, and working side-by-side with Aboriginal people and non Aboriginal people to achieve this goal.”
She said the process of royal assent is normally private.
“But today, for the very best of reasons took place in front of you all.”
The state First Nations Voice will consist of representatives from Local First Nations Voices, and would have the ability to address either house of parliament on any specific Bill that is of concern to South Australia’s First Nations People.
It followed two rounds of extensive consultation with Aboriginal communities, organisations, and people conducted by Mr Agius.
“For too long our voices have been excluded or dismissed. From today we have the right to be heard, at the highest level of decision-making in this state,” the commissioner said.
“Today I pay tribute to the resilience and determination of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who have been the driving force behind this historic change for many decades.”
In the coming weeks, Mr Agius will visit communities to discuss the Voice and inform people about the next steps, such as enrolling to vote and nominating to be a representative.
Premier Peter Malinauskas haled the Bill’s passage as a “momentous occasion” for South Australia.
“I am proud that South Australia is leading the country with its first Nations Voice, and I look forward to working with the Voice to strengthen our work in closing the gap of First Nations disadvantage,” he said.
Asked about the state Liberal’s earlier opposition to the Bill, Mr Malinauskas told reporters the party was entitled to have a different opinion.
“The leader of the opposition and the opposition in South Australia, as part of our democracy, is entitled to form their own view,” he said.
“It doesn't mean we have to agree all the time, but the turnout today is a demonstration of the fact that a lot of South Australians, if not the majority of South Australians, think that giving an Indigenous Voice to parliament is a good idea.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had tried to call Mr Malinsakus during the ceremony, he said.
“Everybody in Australia knows how committed the Prime Minister is to achieving a Voice to the national parliament. Every premier across the country is committed to a national Voice to parliament.
“We’re one step further than that – we committed to a Voice to the state parliament, we’ve now delivered that.”
Attorney-General and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Kyam Maher told reporters South Australia had achieved an “extraordinary national first.”
“We are confident that what we’ve done today will show people and dispel fears about a national body and give people comfort in the lead-up to a national referendum.
“Nothing that we have done today will diminish anyone else, but it will absolutely ensure that Aboriginal voices are heard more clearly and have more of a role in decision making.”
Behind the crowds, a singular vocal protester made his presence known, but Mr Maher said the supporters drowned him out.
“I understand there were protesters – I couldn’t hear any of them with so many people here supporting what happened today, it completely drowned out any protest but I think it shows South Australia’s willingness to act,” he said.
Silent protesters from the Liberal Democrats told NCA NewsWire they believe the Voice was “racist.”
“Putting an advantage for a special group of people – you wouldn’t do that under normal circumstances. We’re here today primarily against any level of bureaucracy that’s added that costs the taxpayers money at the end of the day,” they said.
Supporters outside parliament told NCA NewsWire they were proud to be South Australia, and hoped that the state-based Voice would encourage people to vote yes at the national referendum.
Woodville North based school Ngutu College opened in 2021 with a focus of Aboriginal ways of knowing.
Head of school and director, Andrew Plastow told said South Australia’s achievement would mean the world to the school, which has about 250 students of both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal background.
“Part of the purpose behind the college is really to be able to provide a Voice and have Aboriginal stay within the education system. This obviously takes things to a whole new level, so we‘re incredibly excited to be part of it,” Mr Plastow said.
Proud Aboriginal woman Kaylene Dyinawili Wombat said she was incredibly emotional after seeing the bill pass, and thought of her ancestors and how hard they worked to bring us to this day.
“Obviously a historical moment for us as Aboriginal Australians to finally come to this place which we probably couldn't see back in history. It’s probably something that we never thought would happen and that’s because of our legacy of our trailblazers. The fire and passion of all of our leaders today that have actually worked very hard to work towards the occasion right here today is just so special.
“It’s so emotional I think because we look at the people that also aren’t here with us – our family and our elders that are passed on and never lived to see this special occasion. So their fire sort of burns brightly within our hearts.”
Kelly Treloar from First Peoples Disability Network Australia said staff across colonised states of Australia were very excited to see the legislation enshrined.
“We are absolutely in support of the federal Voice to parliament and we’re really excited to see this happen.,” she said.
“It’s a really, really key moment for the acknowledgment of the recognition of mob and mob with disability being included in that in the Constitution, and hopefully this is the starting point for more awareness raising for the overall federal aim of the Voice of parliament and the Uluru statement from the heart.
Originally published as South Australia becomes the first state to legislate First Nations Voice to parliament
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