Historic First Nations Voice bill to be introduced to South Australian parliament this week

The state government is facing accusations it’s “filtering the views of Aboriginal people” as the historic Voice to Parliament is introduced.

South Australia’s native title service provider has accused the state government of “filtering the views of Aboriginal people” when determining the final details of the Voice to Parliament.

But the government says feedback indicated support for the model, and concerns about its impact on Native Title bodies have been addressed.

Emotions ran high in parliament’s Upper House on Thursday as Attorney-General and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher introduced the First Nations Voice Bill.

It will make South Australia the first state in the country to have an elected Indigenous Voice to parliament.

South Australian Native Title Services (SANTS) chief executive Keith Thomas said First Nations leaders should be standing as one for the historic occasion.

SA Native Title Services CEO Keith Thomas. Picture: Caleb Sweeting.

“Instead, we have a government filtering the views of Aboriginal people expressed during consultation to put forward what it thinks is best,” he said. “The final details of the Voice have been self-determined by government.”

Concerns raised by SANTS relate to recognition of the role of native title groups, utilisation of native title and statutory land rights bodies as the building blocks and support local decision-making to elect or appoint representatives.

A government spokeswoman said the Bill considered “a broad range of views coming from hundreds of First Nations community members, in addition to dozens of submissions”.

“Overwhelmingly, as detailed in the Commissioner for First Nations Voice engagement reports, the feedback indicated support for the proposed model reflecting locally-elected member,” she said.

“Changes made to the final Bill include establishing a Native Title Advisory Committee to advise on matters of interest to Native Title Bodies.”

She said other changes made clear that nothing in the Bill would limit the operation of Native Title bodies.

‘Defining moment’: SA first to have historic Voice

Specific committees representing young people, Elders, Native Title holders and members of the Stolen Generations will be established in a historic First Nations Voice bill set to be introduced to state parliament this week.

The committees were created following two extensive rounds of engagement with First Nations people and the broader community led by Commissioner for First Nations Voice Dale Agius.

South Australia will become the first state in the country to have an elected First Nations Voice after the Greens last month confirmed they would back the proposal.

The Voice will be an advisory body made up of elected First Nations people who will have input on decisions that affect their lives.

Commissioner for First Nations Voice to parliament Dale Agius. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Other changes made based on consultation were provisions to ensure the Voice does not impact on Native Title agreements or other First Nations organisations, and alternations that allow the Voice to address either the House of Assembly or the Legislative Council on specific bills.

The legislation also includes a clearer definition of the terms “First Nations person” and “Traditional Owner”.

The state government will allocate $10m over the forward estimates to support the Voice.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister and Attorney-General Kyam Maher said the introduction of the bill was a “defining moment” for the state.

“The development of this bill has been done hand-in-hand with South Australia’s Aboriginal communities,” he said.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said the legislation was a significant step towards implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart — a commitment of the Labor government.

“This will be a genuine Voice to parliament in the true sense of the word,” he said.

“This is a nation-leading opportunity for South Australia to demonstrate to the rest of the country the benefits of giving our First Nations people greater say in the development of laws and policies that affect their lives.”

Mr Agius said he made a series of recommendations to address community feedback gathered in engagement sessions and through public submissions on a draft bill released last year.

“I am pleased to see our government has taken on-board those recommendations by the community and has added those into the bill that is being introduced,” he said.