SA Voice to Parliament member Leeroy Bilney says representatives have been listening to communities

South Australia’s elected Voice to Parliament members have spoken for the first time, revealing how they spent their first months as a unit.

South Australia’s elected Voice to Parliament members have spent their first months establishing how their roles will function and listening to the views of their communities.

Presiding member Leeroy Bilney said Voice representatives, who were elected in March and held their first meetings mid-year, had been “building the plane and flying at the same time”.

A special joint sitting of state parliament was held on Wednesday for Mr Bilney’s inaugural address of the First Nations Voice to Parliament.

He said the body was still in its infancy but the Voice offered Indigenous people “a seat at the table where decisions are made”.

“We seek to advise on laws and policies in a way that empowers us,” he said.

“If this is done, our children flourish. They would walk in two worlds, and the First Nations foundations from which our culture and people stand proudly, will be a gift to all South Australians.”

The SA Voice to Parliament is made up of six local bodies, which each have two presiding members who sit on the State Voice.

Mr Bilney said there were no established rules, standing orders or procedures for the 46 representatives who were elected to local Voices.

First Nations Voice to Parliament Leeroy Bilney delivers the inaugural address. Picture: NewsWire/ Ben Clark

“There’s no precedence,” he said.

So far, there have been 18 local Voice meetings, three state Voice meetings, a member briefing and an annual meeting of local Voices.

The state Voice has held one meeting with Cabinet and another one with agency chief executives.

At local Voice meetings, members have been listening to their communities and formulating ideas specific to their region.

“There were topics commonly raised in a majority of regions,” Mr Bilney said.

“Health and wellbeing, education and employment, housing and infrastructure, cultural preservation, justice and policing.”

Discussions among local Voices have also included strategies to prevent incarceration, celebration of culture and culturally-appropriate mental health services.

Premier Peter Malinauskas shakes the hand of Leeroy Bilney following the inaugural address. Picture: NewsWire/ Ben Clark

Mr Bilney said there was “a lot of cynicism” around the creation of the Voice – “and there’s a heavy burden on us to prove ourselves”.

He noted it was fortunate the state-based Voice legislation passed before last year’s federal Voice referendum, which was soundly defeated.

“I realise there is every likelihood we would not be here if government had waited until after the referendum,” he said.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher said the inaugural address was “a significant moment in our state and parliament’s history”.

“The government welcomes the advice from the First Nations Voice to inform the development of legislation and policies,” he said.

Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia said the Liberals wanted to see better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“But we are quite sceptical about whether the state Voice to Parliament is the way to go, and whether (it) is going to achieve those outcomes,” he said.

“We will hold it to account, and if it doesn’t perform then we reserve every right to get rid of it.”