30/08/2022

The South Australian Aboriginal community are being asked to provide their views for a First Nations Voice to South Australia's Parliament.

South Australia's Commissioner for First Nations Voice, Dale Agius, will be visiting Aboriginal communities across the state to hear from community on what achieving an enshrined Voice might look like.

The establishment of a First Nations voice to Parliament is the first major step for South Australia in implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Consultation sessions will be held over August and September and will begin in Adelaide today, with more to be held right across South Australia including in the South East, the Iron Triangle, Murraylands, the Riverland, the Far West Coast, APY Lands and northern South Australia.

The feedback gained through these sessions will help inform the development of a Bill to enshrine the Voice.

Up-to-date information on consultation sessions can be found on the AGD website, with more information to be added as times and dates are locked in.

Quotes attributable to Kyam Maher, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs

A Voice to South Australia's Parliament will provide Aboriginal people the opportunity to express concerns and put forward ideas at the highest level of decision-making in our state. This will help Aboriginal people to have a greater say in decisions made about Aboriginal people and their communities.

We want Aboriginal people involved in the early stages to help shape how The Voice should be established, and how it would work with South Australia's Parliament.

Quotes attributable to Dale Agius, Commissioner for First Nations Voice

I'm looking forward to speaking to as many people as possible over the coming weeks, as we share information and talk about ideas to how The Voice to Parliament could be established and work to provide better outcomes for Aboriginal people of South Australia.

This is a historic opportunity for our State and in particular South Australian Aborignal people. I expect there will be a range of views and perspectives put forward to help shape future plans.