South Australia is set to become Australia’s first jurisdiction with an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. 

The SA Government is proposing to create an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, which if passed, will be the first of its kind in Australia. 

The government intends to have the legislation for the state-based Indigenous Voice established by Easter 2023 and running before the national referendum. 

Premier Peter Malinauskas believes that the state Voice can serve as an example of what an Indigenous Voice is, how it works, and, most importantly, how successful it can be in the lead-up to a national vote on a Voice to federal parliament. 

Dale Agius, the South Australian Commissioner for a First Nations Voice and also a member of the national referendum working group, believes the SA Voice could become a model that could connect to the federal model after a successful referendum. 

However, some Indigenous leaders are concerned that the process may override existing organisations and are calling on the government to consult with them. 

The SA Government has allocated $10 million over four years for setting up the Voice and ongoing funding, and the model proposes to elect 12 members who will be divided into six regions, with an equal split between men and women. 

The state Liberal Party has opted to oppose the bill, saying it is “rushed” and “impractical” because the government only did six months of consultation to inform the bill.