South Australian Multicultural Bill

664 The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay) (25 August 2021). Why didn't the original version of the South Australian Multicultural Bill 2020 include recognition of First Nations peoples given this was raised multiple times in the consultation and review process of the bill?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier): I have been advised:

In the drafting of the South Australian Multicultural Bill 2020, careful consideration was given to how to most appropriately recognise First Nations peoples within the legislation, in response to feedback received during the review consultation process.

In keeping with feedback received in the review consultation, the government considered it most fitting for provisions recognising First Nations peoples to be contained within the South Australian Multicultural Charter. The bill therefore provides for the development of the South Australian Multicultural Charter following the passage of the legislation, to set out principles of multiculturalism and essentially provide a foundation for new multicultural policy for our state.

It is the government's intention that the charter will be a highly visible and accessible document and as such, would be a more powerful way of recognising First Nations people.

For this reason, clause 18(2)(b) of the bill stipulates that the charter must contain 'provisions recognising the Aboriginal peoples of South Australia and their role in the diversity of the people of South Australia’.

Following the introduction of the bill, community feedback was received about the need to strengthen the parliamentary declaration, which resulted in an expanded parliamentary declaration, incorporating the recognition of First Nations peoples.

This inclusion has not changed the original intent of the bill, which will see the South Australian Multicultural Charter contain provisions recognising First Nations people.