Legislation to establish a Voice to Parliament in SA has passed both houses in South Australian Parliament. Despite opposition from the Liberal and One Nation parties, Labor had enough support to pass the legislation without them, becoming the first state or territory to establish a First Nations Voice to Parliament.
What will it look like?
Six regions will be established across the state and representatives will be elected for each. Two members from each of these local groups will then form the State First Nations Voice. All of these will elect an equal number of men and women.
The Local First Nations Voice groups will have a focus on local issues working with organisations and local government within the region.
The State First Nations Voice will be able to present to both houses of Parliament and are entitled to be heard on Bills. They will also engage with Government through Ministers and Chief Executives.
Wait – I thought we had to vote on a voice to parliament?
We will later this year – but that’s for Federal Parliament. We’ll go to the polls because, at a federal level, the voice is being enshrined in the Constitution, which cannot be done without approval by the public through a vote. You can find more about that in our referendum explainer.
But in SA the voice legislation makes it law, a voice doesn’t have to be in a constitution to operate, but on Federal level that is the route being pursued. This is so that if Australians approve a voice in the constitution, the only way it can be removed is with their approval again.
Both in SA and federally, legislation will frame how a Voice will operate which can be changed over time, but federally regardless of what that legislation looks like it will have to be there.
