South Australia introduces bill to legislate Voice to Parliament

South Australia is a step closer to having its own Voice to parliament – months ahead of the federal one.

South Australia is a step closer to becoming the first state or territory to legislate an Indigenous voice to its parliament.

As debate rages around the details of a federal Voice to parliament, SA Attorney-General and Indigenous Australians Minister Kyam Maher introduced the First Nations Voice Bill 2023 on Thursday morning.

The Bill is expected to pass with the support of the Greens, meaning it will likely be legislated by Easter – ahead of the federal Voice to Parliament.

“With the introduction of this Bill, we open the door to a historic change. We can become the first jurisdiction in the nation to legislate for a Voice to Parliament and Government for First Nations people – empowering them to shape decisions, instead of being subject to them,” the attorney general said.

“Historically, South Australia has led the nation in reforms and legislation for First Nations people. It is a proud cross-partisan tradition that we seek to build on today.

“Now, we are poised to lead the nation again. And make no mistake – the nation will be watching very closely ahead of the referendum to be held later this year.”

SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said it was a historic day.

“Too often, decisions have been made for Aboriginal people, and not by Aboriginal people,” he said on Twitter.

“A fully-elected Aboriginal body that will not only be a Voice to our parliament, but a Voice without our parliament can change that.”

South Australia’s Attorney-General Kyam Maher introduced the Bill on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Mr Maher said the Bill was the culmination of months of work, including two extensive rounds of engagement with First Nations communities and the broader community around the state led by the Commissioner for First Nations Voice Dale Agius.

On introducing the Bill to the Legislative Council, Mr Maher said the government was proposing a “connected, direct and independent” line of communication for First Nations people to the state’s parliament and government.

He said it would allow important, shared communication by locally elected regional members.

“This is a defining moment for South Australia,” he said.

“This is, in essence, about ensuring First Nations people have more of a say in the decisions that affect their lives.

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

Ahead of the introduction, Mr Agius said the historic move was about giving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people a platform to “share knowledge, wisdom and aspirations for the future, and to be included in the decision making process”.

“I have made a series of recommendations to the government to address important points of community feedback from engagement sessions and public submissions,” he said.

“I am pleased to see our government has taken on-board those recommendations by the community, and have added those into the Bill.”

Unlike the Albanese government’s proposed federal Voice to parliament, the state’s reform does not need a referendum.