SE Aboriginal leader welcomes community consultation on First Nations Voice to parliament

South Australia’s first Commissioner for First Nations Voice has made a stop to Mount Gambier, ahead of the state government’s pledge to introduce a Voice to Parliament as early as next year.

South East Aboriginal leaders have welcomed the progression of the state government’s planned bill to introduce a First Nations Voice to parliament.

A second round of community consultation was held on Thursday, inviting Indigenous stakeholders to The Commodore Hotel in Mount Gambier to provide feedback on the proposed bill, which was recently released.

Pangula Mannamurna chief executive Phoenix James said at a local level, First Nations people had difficulties navigating the “layers of government” to raise concerns and issues.

Mr James said having a dedicated Voice to parliament would create a direct line to the chamber and would “cut through the red tape”, and help address closing the gap targets, such as Indigenous incarceration rates.

Despite being the second largest city in South Australia, Mount Gambier does not have a diversionary Aboriginal Court or Nunga Court.

South Australia’s first Commissioner for First Nations Voice Dale Agius and Pangula Mannamurna Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Phoenix James. Picture: Arj Ganesan

Commissioner for First Nations Voice Dale Agius said the planned bill would allow First Nations' people to be at “the front end” of policy, legislation and programs affecting First Nation People.

“When the (government) is delivering services and making decisions that impact First Nations voices, they want a say,” Mr Agius said.

“In terms of a system reform — this model is putting forward and on the table, direct feedback from local Aboriginal positions, and having that come up in the decision making chambers of parliament.”

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher said the state government was looking to have the bill before the parliament “early next year”.

The Voice would not have veto powers and would work on an advisory-only basis.

Under the proposal different regions would be established around the state, each directly electing their own representatives to the statewide body.

Mr Maher said South Australia had not seen a fierce pushback to the legislation, as witnessed during talks on the referendum to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to the federal parliament.

“The idea of a representative Aboriginal body having a Voice in the South Australian parliament is one that enjoys bipartisan support as a concept,” he said.

“South Australia over the years has had a very proud history of transformative reform in Aboriginal affairs.”

Cracks within the Nationals had emerged as former federal Minister Andrew Gee took to Facebook to speak out against the party’s decision.

Nationals leader David Littleproud is now facing a split, federally and at state level, after the leader of the West Australian branch, Mia Davies, also made her position clear.

“I’m respectful of the decision their party room has made; it doesn’t necessarily align to how the Nationals in Western Australia have approached this issue,” she told ABC Radio Perth.

Feedback on the proposed bill is still being sought, with members of the public invited to make submissions through the government’s online yoursay portal.