South Australian First Nations Voice to Parliament Explainer
Image: Journey by Gabriel Stengle (Kaurna, Ngarrindjeri, Narungga)
On the 16th of March 2024, members for the South Australian First Nations Voice to Parliament will be elected through the democratic process of voting.
What is the South Australian First Nations Voice to Parliament?
The SA First Nations Voice to Parliament aims to help promote the inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation and self-determination in decision-making with regard to state policies and laws. The Voice was legislated in 2023 and is based on recommendations made in the Uluru Statement from the Heart. The Voice will be a direct and independent line of communication to the South Australian Government that is able to advise Parliament on issues that impact First Nation’s peoples and communities.
Didn’t Australia already vote on a Voice to Parliament in the 2023 referendum?
Yes, in 2023 the whole of Australia voted in a referendum answering ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the proposal of a nation-wide Voice to Parliament. Although the nation-wide referendum was unsuccessful, the South Australian First Nations Voice is different to the one proposed on the referendum. The main difference between the two is that the 2023 referendum sought to change to the Australian Constitution, making the voice more permanent, whereas the South Australian Voice is legislated, meaning it can be changed, altered, or repealed at any given time. Other differences include that the Voice will only be implemented in South Australia and only South Australian First Nation’s will be able to vote in the upcoming election for the Voice.
How do we know that a South Australian First Nation’s Voice is needed?
There are a couple factors that led to the decision to form legislation to introduce a South Australian First Nation’s Voice. The decision came about after the Inaugural Commissioner for First Nations Voice, Dale Agius, led a series of community engagements. From this research, two groups of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, sought a direct voice to South Australian Parliament.[NA1] The SA First Nation’s Voice is also based on recommendations made in the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Following this, research about the concept for the South Australian First Nations Voice was presented to Parliament where it gained majority support of both houses. The South Australian First Nations Voice to Parliament then gained legal standing and can be enacted.
How will it operate?
There will be two levels of the First Nation’s Voice to Parliament, one operating at a local level and the other at a state level.
Local : There are six regions across South Australia where each will have a body comprised of elected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives. The central region body will consist of 11 members due to the larger population of First Nation’s peoples and the other five region bodies will consist of seven members.
These local bodies will talk to local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about important issues, engage with government and other local organisations, and share their findings and views with the State First Nations Voice.
State: The state First Nations Voice will be made up of two joint presiding members, a male and a female, from each local First Nations Voice to form a total of 12 members.
The state First Nations Voice will engage directly with Parliament, hear the views of local First Nations Voice, form positions that aim to represent the diversity of First Nations peoples in South Australia, and present these views to the South Australian Parliament.
Voting in the Voice elections
To vote in the election you must be a First Nations person and be enrolled on the State electoral role. You will vote for candidates within the Voice region that you are enrolled to vote in. Voting is not compulsory for this election and therefore you will not be fined for not voting.
When and where can you vote?
Polling day for the election is the 16th of March 2024 and there will be multiple polling stations across the State for you to vote at.
If you are unable to vote on the day, there are select early voting centres open two weeks prior to the polling day, or you can submit a postal vote application.
Mobile polling is also available between the 4th and 16th of March.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Enrol to vote | By 12th Feb 2024 |
| Nominations open | 22nd Jan 2024 until 12th Feb 2024 |
| Postal vote applications open | 1st Feb 2024 |
| Roll closes | 12th Feb 2024, 5pm |
| Nominations close | 12th Feb 2024, 5pm |
| Declaration of nominations | 26th Feb 2024 |
| Early voting period | 6th March 2024 until 15th March 2024 |
| Polling day | 16th March 2024 |
| Election count begins | 25th March 2024 |
| Results declared | 25th March 2024 |