“We must have humility enough to say that what we have been doing has not been working well enough,” South Australia’s Premier Peter Malinauskas said, while introducing a bill to enshrine an SA First Nations Voice to Parliament.
According to The Advertiser, after two rounds of consultation and engagement with Aboriginal communities across the state by Commissioner for a First Voice, Dale Agius, the details of the Bill were addressed.
The definitions of ‘Aboriginal person and country’ have been replaced with ‘First Nations person’ and ‘traditional owner.’
“The definition of First Nations persons adopts the tripartite test, as stated by Justice Brennan in Mabo v Queensland number two, and is commonly used by governments all around Australia,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“The Voice does not limit or otherwise affect the functions of any First Nations persons or bodies under any other act of war, or an agreement or arrangement entered into or relating to First Nations persons or bodies, such as Native Title agreements.”
Mr Malinaukas also named the three key principles in which the Voice would abide and function by.
He said that representatives must be chosen by First Nations communities themselves, and that the Voice must come from the grassroots level and must be able to speak for local issues. He finally stated that the Voice must reflect the diversity of First Nations communities.
Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Josh Teague called the Bill a “defective model” which would not bring the outcome hoped for by the Indigenous people.
Liberal MLC Dennis Hood expressed his disagreement with the model of the Bill, but said that ultimately he wanted better outcomes for Aboriginal people in SA.
Source: The Advertiser
