Achi news desk-
The first people to form an Indigenous voice to parliament in Australia have been elected with South Australia’s advisory body due to begin in mid-2024.
Forty-six people have been elected to represent six regions across South Australia as part of the first voice advisory body which will liaise directly with the highest levels of government on decisions affecting residents of the First Nations.
It comes after Australia’s failed referendum to incorporate Voice for Parliament into the Commonwealth constitution.
Despite this, the South Australian government chose to proceed with its plan.
More than 2000 First Nations voters from all over the state went to the polls on March 16 to elect the representatives in the first election of its kind in the nation.
That’s only 10 per cent of eligible voters but the government said that was because the election was the first of its kind in Australia and it would take time to build awareness and engagement in the community.
“South Australian First Nations Voice is on track, with strong interest in nominations and a successful first election,” Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher said in a statement on Friday.
“We will be looking to strengthen engagement before the next Llais election which will be held at the same time as the state election.”
The number of voters is similar to the participation figures to elect the former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) in the 1990s.
Orientation sessions will be held for the 46 members next month before the meetings begin and presiding members will be elected by the regions.
The South Australian government expects the local and state voice to be operational by mid-2024.
Legislation incorporating the Voice of SA came to the House of Assembly in March 2023.
The bill sets out six regional voices across the state, each with seven representatives to be elected directly by their local communities, however, the Central region, which covers metropolitan Adelaide, will have 11 members due to the larger population.
Each local voice will have two presidential members who will act as the Voice of the State to the Senedd.
The voice of the state will be an advisory body to the South Australian parliament to advocate for the concerns of Indigenous Australians​​​​​​ and raise ideas from all communities.
He will not have the right to veto legislation or prevent the government from carrying out any of its duties.
