A voice for South Australia’s First Nations has taken a step closer with the development of a draft Bill to be considered by the Parliament.
The First Nations Voice Bill 2022 was developed following State-wide community engagement with First Nations people and communities.
Inaugural Commissioner for First Nations Voice, Dale Agius, is to seek feedback from First Nations people across South Australia over the coming weeks.
“My report captures the resounding message I heard in these conversations – First Nations people in South Australia want to have a say in their affairs based on the principle of self-determination,” Commissioner Agius said.
“Overwhelmingly, people have told me about the need for grassroots voices to be heard and that First Nations people should choose who represents them,” he said
“We now have a model for how that could look. I’ll be going back out to communities over the coming weeks to get their feedback and to have further conversations about the Bill to finalise arrangements.”
He said the draft Bill proposed a State-wide First Nations group to be formed known as ‘The State First Nations Voice’, to advise and address Parliament. It would be informed and made up of representatives from several Local First Nations Voices.
Member of the Legislative Council Kyam Maher said the draft Bill proposed a change to empower First Nations’ South Australians.
“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 their collective wisdom, which is needed to help make decisions that are in their best interests,” said Kyam Maher
“For too long, decisions have been made for Aboriginal people, not by Aboriginal people,” he said.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said the First Nations’ Voice Bill would form part of the Government’s commitment to a State-based implementation of the Uluru ‘Statement from the Heart’.
“In 2019, I committed the South Australian Labor Party to implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart if we formed government,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“It’s time Aboriginal people have the ability to express their hopes and aspirations for their people in the State’s supreme decision-making body and that means speaking on the floor of Parliament itself,” the Premier said.
