Law to establish Indigenous Voice in South Australia passes state parliament's upper house

Tim Dornin Published February 24, 2023 at 4.30am (AWST)

The South Australian parliament's upper house has passed legislation to establish an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

The Legislative Council voted on Thursday in support of the Labor government's bill which will now go to the lower house.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher said the vote was a significant moment in the state's history.

"We are leading the nation in our delivery of a First Nations Voice to Parliament," he said.

"Never before has a house of parliament in an Australian state or territory given endorsement to a model of this nature.

"We still have a long way to go, but I welcome this significant step forward to giving our First Nations people the voice they deserve in state parliament."

The South Australian legislation proposes regions with directly elected representatives be established around the state.

Two members from each group would then form the State First Nations Voice, which could address either house of state parliament on particular legislation of interest to Aboriginal people.

Earlier this week the South Australian opposition indicated it would vote against the proposals, describing the proposed provisions as rushed and defective.

AAP

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