Good morning.

Today, First Nations people in South Australia will determine the composition of Australia’s first-ever Indigenous Voice to Parliament advisory body.

The Voice will be a group of First Nations representatives advising the South Australian Government on matters of importance to their communities.

It’s separate from the Indigenous Voice proposed by the Federal Government last year, which was defeated at a national referendum in October.

Today, I’ll unpack the South Australian Voice, how it came to be and what influence it might have.

How did we get here?

The South Australian Parliament passed legislation establishing the Voice last year. It was passed during a special sitting, and signed into law in a public ceremony witnessed by 5,000 South Australians on the steps of state parliament.

Establishing a First Nations Voice is a key pillar of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which the SA Labor Government – led by Premier Peter Malinauskas – committed to implementing after their successful election in 2022.

Momentum for the Voice took a hit after the national referendum, in which South Australia was the only state where every federal electorate voted ‘No’. The result prompted a One Nation state politician to table a bill that would repeal the creation of the South Australian state Voice.

However, that did not poss, and the state Voice is still a go. Now, members of the inaugural Voice are being chosen.

How will it work?

The Voice to Parliament will be a two-tiered system consisting of 46 ‘Local Voices’ and 12 ‘State Voices’. An equal gender split for the members is required under law.

Enrolled First Nations voters from SA will choose who they want as their Local Voices.

These representatives will be chosen from six different regions across the state. Five of the regions will be allocated seven members each, while the highly-populated Central region – which includes Adelaide – will have 11 members.

Elected Local Voices in each region will then choose two members amongst themselves to represent them as their leaders. The two leaders from each of the six regions will form the State Voice.

Local Voices will be tasked with speaking to members of First Nations communities about matters pertinent to them, and to share these viewpoints with the State Voice.

The State Voice will then convey the concerns of their local communities directly to parliament and the government, where it will consult and advise on matters significant to First Nations people in South Australia.

Voice to Parliament, Voice to Government

The Voice will be notified of legislation introduced to either house of parliament, and can present reports to parliament on matters concerning First Nations communities. Parliament may also ask the Voice to report on the implications of legislation, to inform debate and voting decisions.

Each year, the Voice will provide a written report and address to parliament detailing their work over the previous 12 months.

The Cabinet (senior members) of the SA Government will meet with the State Voice at least twice a year. This will allow the Voice to ask questions of the Cabinet, and be notified about upcoming announcements and plans. The State Voice will also regularly meet with leaders of each public department within the state.

Can it be shut down?

The SA Voice to Parliament came about through legislation. This differs from the proposed Federal Voice, which would’ve been enshrined in the Australian Constitution if the referendum succeeded.

It means that the SA Voice can be repealed by new legislation ordering its closure, something that can’t be done in response to a referendum.

The current SA Government is unlikely to ever table legislation repealing the Voice, given its commitment to the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

However, the SA Liberal Opposition did not support the establishment of the state Voice last year, amid concerns about a rushed process and flaws in the advisory body.

Opposition Leader David Speirs told TDA his party would “keep a close eye on the state-based Voice and if it’s not working [and] we will be more than willing to amend its operation or even abolish it entirely”.

Where do you vote?

If you’re a First Nations person in South Australia, you can find a list of the voting booths here, and help on how to vote here. Town halls, community centres and schools are among the polling places where a vote can be cast.

The election count will begin on Monday 25 March, with results expected to trickle in from then.

Future Voice elections will coincide with SA state elections. This will start in 2026, and take place every four years.

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