First Nations Voice to Parliament

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:52): Supplementary: is the Attorney-General aware of what the then Liberal government position was on a Voice to Parliament in that election?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Deputy Premier, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (14:52): I thank the honourable member, and I did talk about the Voice to Parliament to some extent, so I am very happy to answer this question. It is important to contrast sometimes the different views in policy areas to illuminate the differences between parties. In the lead-up to the 2018 state election, the then Marshal Liberal government and Premier Steven Marshall, who had responsibility for Aboriginal affairs, would not take the title of Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, so for four years we did not have a Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in South Australia. To the great shame of the Liberal government there was not a single person with the title of Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.

But Steven Marshall brought to this parliament a model. I thought the model could use some improving, but he brought to this parliament a model for an Aboriginal Voice to Parliament. It reported to a committee and the committee reported to parliament. There was no direct access to the parliament. I thought it was deficient in some areas but it was not just Liberal Party policy, the Liberal Party back then brought legislation into this parliament for an Aboriginal Voice to Parliament.

So, yes, there have been different views on this and certainly those opposite have swung from one side to another and, do you know what, I look forward to them swinging back again.