First Nations Voice to Parliament

In reply to Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (20 June 2024). (Estimates Committee A)

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector): I have been advised of the following:

The budget established to support the ongoing operations of the First Nations Voice to Parliament (the Voice) comprises the following three components:

1. Local and State First Nations Voices, covering items such as sessional and annual fees, ICT costs, travel and accommodation, and meeting facilities.

2. Annual conference and advisory committees to the State Voice, including:

Youth Advisory Committee

Elders Advisory Committee

Stolen Generation Advisory Committee

Native Title Advisory Committee.

3. A secretariat to support the Voice with its administrative functions and to assist their engagement with the Parliament of South Australia, government agencies and the community. The secretariat is based in Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation within the Attorney-General’s Department (AGD).

Funding for items 1 and 2 above is held in AGD’s administered Items budget whilst funding for item 3 is held within the Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation budget (Program 1 in the AGD Agency Statements). The table below provides a current breakdown of this funding:

Expenditure incurred by the Local and State Voices to 31 May 2024 was approximately $230,000.

Expenditure incurred by the secretariat to 31 May 2024 was approximately $296,000.

Total expenditure to 31 May 2024 was approximately $526,000.

In relation to the second dot point on page 17 of the AGD Agency Statements, which refers to an increase of $0.4 million in expenses in the 2023-24 estimated result compared to the 2022-23 actual, this increase comprises additional funding provided in the 2023-24 budget for the Voice secretariat support ($0.7 million), offset by one-off savings recognised in 2023-24 due to the Voice elections being held later than originally planned ($0.3 million).