State government releases draft bill for an SA-based Indigenous Voice to parliament

The draft First Nations Voice Bill 2022 it set to be announced, after a statewide engagement with Indigenous communities by SA Commissioner for First Nations Voice, Dale Agius.

Dale Agius, South Australia’s first Commissioner for First Nations Voice, left, at Parliament House with Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher. Picture: Brenton Edwards

A state-based Indigenous Voice to parliament would function with a ground-up approach, giving community members the opportunity to vote for their own representatives from their respective regions.

The state government will on Wednesday announce the draft First Nations Voice Bill 2022 that was developed after a three month, statewide engagement with Indigenous communities by SA Commissioner for First Nations Voice, Dale Agius.

After consulting with 26 communities, Mr Agius has released his engagement report which he said captured the “resounding message” he heard from Indigenous people statewide.

“First Nations people in South Australia want to have a say in their affairs based on the principle of self-determination,” he said.

“They want to be able to influence the decisions being made about them at the highest of levels – in the parliament.

“Overwhelmingly, people have told me about the need for grassroots voices to be heard and that First Nations people should choose who represents them.”

The draft Bill proposes that a state-based Voice would enable a strong and direct line of communication for First Nations peoples to SA’s parliament.

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

Different regions would be established around SA, each directly electing their own representatives to the statewide Voice body.

Dale Agius, South Australia’s first Commissioner for First Nations Voice. Picture: Brenton Edwards

The number of members and regions is yet to be determined but each “Local First Nations Voice” would have an equal number of male and female members.

The statewide Voice would also have two joint presiding members from each of the Local First Nations Voice.

The election process would be managed by the Electoral Commission of South Australia and elections would be held at the same time as state elections, with members to be elected for a four-year term.

An SA Voice to parliament was a Labor election promise.

Attorney-General and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Kyam Maher said a Voice would assist the parliament in making more informed decisions.

“This draft Bill proposes change that will empower First Nations South Australians and strengthen our Parliament by making sure that it is informed about issues and concerns of Aboriginal people,” he said.

“By establishing this First Nations Voice to State Parliament, the Government recognises and respects Aboriginal people as the State’s first peoples as well as.”

Premier Peter Malinaskas said it was time First Nations people would have the “ability to express their hopes and aspirations” to the state’s supreme decision-making body.

“I committed the South Australian Labor Party to implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart if we formed government,” he said.

“We’re leading the nation with a Voice to parliament in the true sense of the word.”

Mr Agius said the second stage of community engagement would address elements that required further consideration before a “Voice structure” could be finalised, which included how electoral boundaries would be established, how people could nominate to represent their communities, and the way in which elections would be conducted.

Further engagement will be held from November 17 until January 6, to help refine the draft Bill ahead of its introduction to parliament.

Originally published as State government releases draft bill for an SA-based Indigenous Voice to parliament