Voice, Truth and Treaty: State government committed to three key reforms of Uluru Statement from the Heart
The state government says its committed to implementing key reforms from the Uluru Statement from the Heart, despite the outcome of the federal referendum.
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The state government says it is still committed to implementing the three key reforms of the Uluru Statement from the Heart – which are Voice, Truth and Treaty – despite the outcome of the federal referendum.
Following the defeat of the Voice nationally, the Treaty process in Queensland collapsed after the Liberal National Party withdrew its support early last week, while federal opposition leader Peter Dutton abandoned his promise for a second referendum on Indigenous recognition.
In a statement to the Advertiser, an SA government spokesperson said they were looking at other aspects of the Uluru Statement and once the Voice was in operation, it would inform how to go forward with Truth-telling and Treaty.
“Once the state-based Voice is operating, we look forward to seeking their views on processes for implementation of Treaty and Truth-telling,’ a spokesperson said.
“Work has commenced on looking at the other aspects of the Uluru Statement, particularly what other jurisdictions in Australia and around the world have done.
“As per its election promise, the Malinauskas Labor Government is committed to implementing a state-based version of the Uluru Statement from the Heart with a Voice to Parliament, Treaty and Truth-telling.”
State opposition leader David Speirs says Premier Peter Malinauskas needed to reveal his plans for the Truth and Treaty reforms that come after the SA Voice is up and running next year, however, the government says the Voice would help inform on how to push forward with the two key reforms once it was in operation.
In a statement to the Advertiser, Mr Speirs said he did not believe any of “Labor’s proposals” would help deliver better outcomes for First Nations people in SA.
“We have always been supportive of greater engagement with Aboriginal communities to deliver practical outcomes to close the gap, however, we do not believe Labor’s proposals will work,” he said.
Mr Speirs said his party would look to develop a “thorough and thoughtful range of policies” for First Nations people in the lead up to the 2026 state election, but for now, supported Senator Jacinta Price’s call for an audit, which is likely to be rejected by federal Labor, the Greens and Senator David Pocock.
“In the meantime, I support Jacinta Price and Kerrynne Liddle’s calls for an audit of funding for programs intended to close the gap because it is clear the current approach is failing abysmally,” he said.
It is understood the SA Liberals are likely to support One Nation MLC Sarah Game’s First Nations Voice Repeal Bill, which is on notice and will be introduced to the Upper House at the next sitting week.
However, their support will not affect the SA Voice, as One Nation and the SA Liberals do not hold enough seats to see the Bill pass in the Upper House.
Implementing the three key reforms of the Uluru Statement from the Heart which are Voice, Truth and Treaty, was a key election commitment by the Malinauskas Labor government prior to the March 2022 state election.
Elections for the SA Voice will be held in March 2024.
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