Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry 11th hour delay to create the NT’s own Voice to Parliament

A public hearing discussing the Territory’s own Voice to Parliament has hit an eleventh-hour stumbling block.

The Territory’s own Voice to Parliament has hit a stumbling block after a public hearing was postponed at the eleventh hour.

Less than a week before it was due to meet, the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry announced it was postponing a public hearing into the Process to Review Bills for their Impact on First Nations Territorians.

The Committee is reviewing how an Aboriginal advisory body to the Territory parliament would function, with a proposal that all NT legislation would be evaluated on its impact on Aboriginal people.

The postponed meeting comes a month after the defeat of the referendum — with 60 per cent of Territorians voting against the Voice to Parliament — and nine months away from the 2024 election.

While NT’s urban centres swung against recognising First Nations people in the Australian constitution, 22 of the 23 bush polling booths had a majority Yes vote.

No future sitting date has been confirmed for the cancelled November 13 meeting, however it is understood the hearing will be held in early 2024 — just months before its May 2024 deadline.

A Legislative Assembly Committee spokeswoman said the hearing was postponed due to a combination of member and witness availability.

The Inquiry was set up in May following a motion by Mulka representative Yingiya Guyula, and received bipartisan support to investigate steps towards establishing the Territory’s own Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

On Thursday Mr Guyula confirmed a number of witnesses had asked for the public hearing date to be moved.

The Inquiry was set up in May following a motion by Mulka representative Yingiya Guyula, and received bipartisan support to investigate steps towards establishing the Territory’s own Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Picture: Zizi Averill

He said some asked for more time to prepare their responses, while the northeast Arnhem Land leader said he would be attending several funerals in the homelands on Monday.

Mr Guyula said the timeline was also impacted by the recent leadership reshuffle — with former Committee chair Brent Potter moving into ministry positions for veterans affairs and police, fire and emergency services.

However the Independent politician said he was still hopeful that the report would meet its May deadline.

“(He) is aware that many people are wanting to provide thoughtful evidence that is not rushed and contributes to substantial and beneficial change,” a spokesman for Mr Guyula’s office said.

Originally published as Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry 11th hour delay to create the NT’s own Voice to Parliament