Aboriginal communities across South Australia would be able to vote for local representatives who will eventually form the state’s new First Nations Voice to Parliament.
That’s the plan under the proposed bill released today by the South Australian government.
The Labor Party said the election commitment is a local implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Commissioner for First Nations Voice Dale Agius said the message from communities was clear.
“It’s important for Aboriginal and First Nations people to feel like they have the ability to speak about their local issues,” Mr Agius said.
South Australia’s first Aboriginal Attorney-General, Kyam Maher, said his government was “doing something that’s the first of its kind in the nation”.
“One thing I am certain of [is] that if Aboriginal people aren’t at the forefront of making the policies and decisions that affect their lives, then that sort of government action doesn’t work as well as it might,” Mr Maher said.
How will the Voice be chosen?
Under the draft proposal, the state will be split into six areas — one covering metropolitan Adelaide and five covering regional areas.
Exactly how that division will occur is something the SA government said would be determined by the next phase of consultation.
It could be along language group, community or electoral boundary lines.
First Nations people would be able to vote in local representatives at the same time as state government elections, in a process overseen by the state Electoral Commission.
Aboriginal people would vote in the area where they’re enrolled.
To run for election to a local group, a person could nominate for the area where they live or where their country is.
“For example, a Pitjantjatjara person [from central Australia’s APY Lands] who resides in Adelaide for health reasons or for other reasons and has their electoral address in Adelaide will vote, under this bill, in that metro region but would be able to stand either in the metro region or on their country,” Mr Maher said.
These elected groups would meet to discuss issues important to their communities at least four, but no more than six, times a year unless ministerial approval is granted.
All six groups would meet all together once a year.
Each of the six groups would select two members — one woman and one man — to form the state-wide voice to parliament.
Who would the Voice speak to?
This state-wide group would speak with the premier and state cabinet at least twice a year.
Ministers and chief executives of each government department would also be required to hold briefings with them, to allow First Nations representatives to ask questions of interest to Aboriginal people.
The group could also speak directly to parliament on any legislation that it likes.
“It’s not up to us to decide what Aboriginal people are interested in or what affects Aboriginal people, it’s up to them to decide,” the attorney-general said.
“It is an advisory body — it won’t have a vote in parliament, it won’t be able to move amendments in parliament, it won’t be able to veto anything in parliament.”
The speaker of the lower house, or the president of the upper house, may also request the group’s input on particular legislation also.
Public service resources would be provided to all groups to help them work effectively, but the exact cost will be determined by the final bill that is passed by parliament.
What do elders think?
Kaurna elder Jeffrey Newchurch said the time was right for an Aboriginal voice to state parliament but consultation going forward was key.
“By coming together, we’re healing and that’s the importance of it,” Mr Newchurch said.
“From the [Kaurna] elders community, we’re supportive of it but the emphasis has to be on young people.
“We also have to have this conversation with the non-Aboriginal community too.”
Every Aboriginal community is different and the next round of consultation will take place across the state in coming months before the bill is introduced to parliament next year.
Mr Maher said the government wants to have the legislation passed by the end of 2023 and hoped it would align with any federal Voice to Parliament that may be enacted.
The state opposition said it was considering the draft bill.
