First Nations Voice Elections

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:00): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Will the minister inform the council about the inaugural elections underway for South Australia's First Nations Voice?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:00): I thank the honourable member for his question. I would be more than happy to do so. Most members would be aware that Saturday 16 March is a big day for the South Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. It is the day that the inaugural elections for the First Nations Voice will be held. I am delighted to inform the chamber, at the prompting of the member, about the processes that are already underway.

Nominations closed on 12 February, with the declarations taking place on Monday 26 February. That saw 113 nominations announced, who will be vying to fill the 46 positions across the six regions. The nominations in the various regions were as follows: for Central region, the Adelaide region, there are 41 nominations in total for 11 positions. For region 2, Far North, there are 13 nominations for seven positions. In region 3, Flinders and Upper North, there are 13 nominations for seven positions. In region 4, Riverland and the South-East, there are 14 nominations for seven positions. In region 5, West and West Coast, there are 19 nominations for seven positions. In region 6, Yorke and Mid North, there are 13 nominations for seven positions.

I am very pleased to see the large number of nominations. Even more pleasing is the number of nominations by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, which make up more than half of the nominations in total. I think about 54 per cent of nominations are from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. For every region, there are more nominees than positions available, and for most of the regions there are approximately double, if not more, nominations than positions that are available.

Early voting at early voting centres commenced yesterday, and mobile voting at remote communities around South Australia commenced earlier this week. Early voting has already started this week via mobile voting at places like Amata, Bordertown, Clare, Copley, Davenport, Hawker, Jamestown, Kalka, Kingston, Koonibba, Loxton, Marree, Meningie, Moonta, Naracoorte, Narrung, Nepabunna, Oak Valley, Pipalyatjara, Point Pearce, Scotdesco, Umuwa, Waikerie and Yalata.

Early voting centres and mobile voting will continue for the rest of this week and into next week in the Adelaide CBD, Berri, Ceduna, Christie Downs, Coober Pedy, Elizabeth, Iwantja, Kingscote, Maitland, Marla, Mimili, Mount Gambier, Murray Bridge, Parndana, Penneshaw, Port Augusta, Port Adelaide, Port Lincoln, Quorn, Victor Harbor, Whyalla and Yankalilla.

On election day on Saturday 16 March, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can vote at the Adelaide CBD, Aldinga, Barmera, Berri, Ceduna, Christie Downs, Coober Pedy, Elizabeth, Gawler, Goolwa, Kadina, Mount Gambier, Murray Bridge, Nuriootpa, Peterborough, Port Adelaide, Port Augusta, Port Lincoln, Port Pirie, Port Victoria, Renmark, Roxby Downs, Strathalbyn, Two Wells and Whyalla.

All the details of the addresses, the voting times and the voting days for all polling booths, the remote booths, the mobile booths, the early voting, and voting on the day are available at the SA Electoral Commission's website. I would like to thank all the people from the Electoral Commission who have been involved, and also the Commissioner for First Nations Voice, Dale Agius, and his team for the work that they have done so far in the preparations for these elections.