Question Time

First Nations Voice To Parliament

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs regarding the Federal Voice. Can the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs advise if the state government will be using taxpayer funds to promote the yes campaign for the Federal Voice to Parliament and national referendum?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Hunter, the Hon. Ms Girolamo, the honourable Leader of the Opposition, I would like to listen to the Attorney-General.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:19): I thank the honourable member for her question. I am happy to inform the honourable member and the chamber that what we are concentrating on is the State Voice, the State Voice that was passed at the end of March by this parliament, and recent regulations promulgated that set down the boundaries for the six regions, and also announced the dates of the elections for the State Voice, the date of the election being Saturday 9 September, as has been publicly announced, with, I think, the nominations opening on 17 July.

I know that both the Electoral Commissioner and the Commissioner for First Nations Voice, as well as their offices, have already started and will be continuing with work to have those elections carried out, to let people know, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in South Australia, those elections are occurring, and encourage people to both nominate and participate in those elections. That is what we are concentrating on in South Australia, on what will be a historic Australian first to have a legislated First Nations Voice to our South Australian parliament and to our government.

Similarly to what is being proposed in the wording of proposed new section 129 of the Commonwealth Constitution, our Voice, like the proposed federal constitutional alteration, is a Voice to our parliament and our executive, and that is the work we are undertaking and I think those have been steadfast in undertaking that work.