What is the SA First Nations Voice?

The South Australian (SA) First Nations Voice to Parliament is a representative, elected body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The SA First Nations Voice is an advisory body and does not have veto powers or decision-making powers in South Australia’s Parliament. It allows the opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to raise community interests in a public, transparent, and accountable way.

The SA First Nations Voice is made up of two levels:

  • The Local First Nations Voices – an elected body of members that represent each of the six regions of South Australia
  • The State First Nations Voice – a group consisting of two chosen members from each Local First Nations Voice.

What is the SA First Nations Voice Election?

The SA First Nations Voice Election is the process for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of South Australia to elect candidates to represent their community. Elected members for each region form a Local First Nations Voice. They can provide advice on laws, policies and programs through direct communication with the decision-makers.

The first ever SA First Nations Voice Election was held on Saturday, 16 March 2024.

The next SA First Nations Voice Election will be held on Saturday, 21 March 2026. This is the same day as the 2026 State Election, and voting for both elections will be available in all polling booths.

How was the SA First Nations Voice established?

The South Australian Government committed to a state-based implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, starting with a First Nations Voice to Parliament.

As a first step, in July 2022 the government appointed the inaugural Commissioner for First Nations Voice, Dale Agius, to lead a series of community engagements and to provide advice to the government on these engagements.

The Commissioner held 2 rounds of engagements with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across South Australia between August 2022 and January 2023.

The first round focused on input from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community on the underpinning design principles for the Voice. This engagement found that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are seeking:

  • A direct voice to South Australian Parliament
  • A voice that is elected by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, to represent local communities
  • A voice to represent the diversity of South Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities – including nation group diversity, gender, youth, and Elders
  • Direct access to government decision-makers, i.e. Ministers and Chief Executives

Following this, the South Australian Government developed a draft Bill and model based on these findings. The draft Bill and 2 boundary options was released for feedback.

In November 2022, the Commissioner commenced a second round of community engagement to seek feedback on the draft Bill, model, and boundary options. This included face-to-face state-wide engagements with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, as well as written submissions from the broader community.

The feedback received in this process informed the final design of the model and legislation.

In March 2023, the South Australian Parliament passed the First Nations Voice Act.

Legislation and Rules for Elections

The First Nations Voice Act 2023 and the Regulations under that Act provide the law for the operations of the SA First Nations Voice and the rules for elections.

  • First Nations Voice Act 2023
  • First Nations Voice Regulations 2023.

Additionally, the Electoral Commissioner (after consultation with the Minister and State First Nations Voice) can modify the rules set out in Schedule 1 of the First Nations Voice Act 2023 or determine new rules necessary for the proper conduct of the election.

Election Rules

How do I contact my Local First Nations Voice?

The First Nations Voice Secretariat provide administrative and operation support to the State and Local First Nations Voices.

The First Nations Voice Secretariat webpage contains an online form for contacting

https://www.firstnationsvoice.sa.gov.au/contact

 

Alysha Menzel's Artwork depicts the varied layers are representative of our people’s voices echoing across the land, joining forces, and amplifying together. It doesn’t matter if our thoughts are the same or different, our unification is ever-present and determines that we must be heard. To read more from Alysha, click on the banner:

 

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