South Australia will implement its own First Nations voice to parliament next year, with the state’s first Indigenous Attorney-General saying the SA Government is committed to all three elements of the Uluru Statement – Voice, Treaty and Truth.
Attorney-General and Indigenous Affairs Minister Kyam Maher believes the SA voice would aid the creation of a national consensus for constitutional change and give specific advice to the state government on proposed legislation.
“It’ll be a really important first step,” the attorney-general told the ABC.
“It’ll also be able to provide that sort of advice in terms of rolling out the other parts of the Uluru Statement and Indigenous affairs generally.”
Despite the Albanese Government working on a national voice to parliament, Minister Maher said it is just as important to enshrine a First Nations voice on a state level.
“Decision or policies for Aboriginal people only really work when Aboriginal people are at the forefront of the decision-making.”
The plan is set to pass the SA parliament, with the Liberal Opposition offering support, having already moved towards creating a Voice during the past four-year term of the Marshall Government.
