Australian state and territory Indigenous voices

Australian state and territory Indigenous voices are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advisory bodies established by some of the Parliaments of the Australian states and territories. These bodies play an important role in advising governments on policies and programs that affect Indigenous Australians, and in representing Indigenous interests in public debate.[1]

This article is part of a series on the
Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Voice
Proposed Australian federal Indigenous advisory body to represent Indigenous communities.
Background
2023 referendum
See also

State and territory Indigenous advisory bodies are typically established under legislation, and their members are democratically elected by First Nations communities.[1] The membership of these bodies is usually made up of representatives from a range of Indigenous organizations and communities. The specific roles and responsibilities of state and territory Indigenous advisory bodies vary.[2]

New South Wales

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns is open to implementing a Voice to Parliament for the state's First Nations people, regardless of the outcome of the federal referendum on the issue.[3]

Victoria
Further information: 2019 Victorian First Peoples' Assembly election and 2023 Victorian First Peoples' Assembly election

In November 2019, the inaugural First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria was formed and elected, consisting of 21 members representing Aboriginal Victorians, elected from five different regions in the state, and 10 members to represent each of the state's formally recognised traditional owner corporations, excluding the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation, who declined to participate in the election process.[4]

The main aim of the Assembly is to work out the rules by which individual treaties will be negotiated between the Victoria State Government and individual Aboriginal peoples. It will also establish an independent "umpire", the Treaty Authority, to oversee the negotiations between the Aboriginal groups and the Victoria State Government and ensure fairness. It will also establish a fund to help negotiations are take place on an even financial footing among the various groups, and debate and decide which ideas, laws, policies and rights will be the subject of treaty negotiations.[4]

The Assembly meets in the chamber of the Upper House, seat of the Legislative Council.[4] It met for the first time on 10 December 2019,[5] and again met over two days in February 2020. The Assembly hopes to agree upon a framework, umpire and process before November 2022, the date of the next state election. The current Labor government under Daniel Andrews is supportive, but the Coalition had not made a clear commitment to supporting the treaty process.[6]

On 11 July 2020, the Victoria State Government announced that it would establish a truth and reconciliation commission for Aboriginal Australians in Victoria, the first ever in Australia, with the terms of reference to be worked out collaboratively. The 21 elected members of the Assembly would consult with their communities and work with the Victoria State Government to design the process. The announcement was welcomed by the community. The 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart recommended that such a commission should be established across all of Australia.[7]

On 3 August 2020, the Assembly held its first official negotiation meeting with Aboriginal Affairs Minister Gabrielle Williams.[8]

The Assembly held its second election in 2023, and new co-chairs were elected.

Queensland

In 2023, the Queensland government announced its commitment to establishing a state-based Indigenous Voice to Parliament. This announcement was made in the context of the government's broader Path to Treaty process, which is aimed at building a more just and equitable future for all Queenslanders.[9][10][11][12][13]

Western Australia

Western Australia does not currently have a state-based Indigenous Voice to Parliament, however it has had an Aboriginal Advisory Council since 1972.[14]

South Australia

In May 2021, South Australian Premier Steven Marshall announced his government's intention to create the state's first Indigenous Voice to Parliament.[15] After the election of a state Labor government in 2022, new premier Peter Malinauskas pledged to implement this state-based Voice to Parliament, as well as restarting treaty talks and greater investment in areas affecting Aboriginal people in the state.[16] In July 2022 Dale Agius was appointed as the state's first Commissioner for First Nations Voice, with the role commencing in August and responsible for liaising with federal government. Kokatha elder Roger Thomas would continue as Commissioner for Aboriginal Engagement for a further six months.[17]

In January 2023 the government secured the support of the Greens for a bill which would be debated in parliament later in the year.[18] The process would include the election of 40 people by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people enrolled to vote ore members specific to their geographic area, with 12 of these forming a statewide Voice, which would be entitled to address the parliament on any bill being debated.[19] An open letter was sent in early January to Agius and Kyam Maher (Attorney-General of South Australia and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs) by Native Title Services SA on behalf of most of the native title bodies, voicing some concerns about aspects of the model, saying the proposal would bypass established individual native title groups' voices. Maher said later that their concerns would be taken into consideration, and the bill would ensure the Voice would not impinge on what the groups do, and would ensure the existence of a formal structure to take into account their views.[20]

One Nation's sole MP Sarah Game expressed her opposition to the legislation, saying it would divide South Australians based on race.[21] In February 2023, the South Australian Liberal Party announced its opposition to the Voice proposed by the government, saying that it was flawed.[22][23]

The bill passed in a special Sunday sitting of parliament on 26 March 2023 and was given royal assent immediately afterwards[24][25] in a public event on the steps of Parliament House.[26] Thousands of onlookers attended the event, watching some of the events inside the building projected live onto large screens. The premier said in a radio interview the next morning that he would deem the Voice as a failure if there was not a measurable improvement in the Closing the Gap statistics in the years ahead.[27]

Implementation of the SA Voice was delayed for six months owing to possible confusion introduced by the debate about the national referendum on a national Voice in October.[28] Elections for the SA body are scheduled to take place in March 2024.[29]

After the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum in which over 60% of South Australians voted against the Voice, state Liberal leader David Speirs cast some doubt on the state voice. South Australian One Nation MP Sarah Game announced plans to introduce a bill calling for the First Nations Voice Act 2023 to be repealed.[30]

Tasmania

Tasmania does not currently have a state-based Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

Australian Capital Territory

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body (ATSIEB) was established in 2008.[31][1] As of 2023, ATSIEB has seven elected members, including a chairperson and deputy chairperson. Members of ATSIEB have portfolio responsibilities mirroring the ACT Government and the body is supported by a secretariat.[32]

Elections to ATSIEB are conducted by Elections ACT. Any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person over the age of 18 living in the ACT is eligible to vote in ATSIEB elections. The most recent election was held in 2021 and had a turnout of 267 voters.[33]

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory does not currently have a territory-based Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

See also

References
  1. Lo-Booth, Madeline (18 September 2023). "What Indigenous Advisory Bodies Exist or Have Existed in Australia? What Have They Done?". Vice. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  2. "Federal focus on the Voice to Parliament, while Treaty and Voice progress continues in the States and Territories". Ashurst. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  3. Rose, Tamsin (15 September 2023). "Chris Minns open to a NSW voice to parliament regardless of federal referendum outcome". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  4. Dunstan, Joseph (5 November 2019). "Victorian Aboriginal voters have elected a treaty assembly. So what's next?". ABC News. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  5. Costa, Jedda; Dunstan, Joseph (11 December 2019). "'We are taking this place back': Treaty assembly sits in Victoria's Upper House". ABC News. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  6. Dunstan, Joseph (29 February 2020). "'We've got a lot of eyes watching us': The weight of expectation on Victoria's treaty process". ABC News. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  7. Thorne, Leonie (11 July 2020). "Victoria to establish truth and justice process as part of Aboriginal treaty process". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  8. Dunstan, Joseph (4 August 2020). "Victoria's First Peoples' Assembly holds first formal Aboriginal treaty talks with Government". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  9. Hinchliffe, Joe (6 July 2022). "Queensland moves closer to an Indigenous voice to parliament". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  10. "Palaszczuk Government launches the start of the formal Path to Treaty". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  11. "First Nations voices heard". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  12. "Queensland just took a big step towards Treaty. What's being proposed?". NITV. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  13. "'A new future': Queensland begins pathway towards a treaty". NITV. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  14. "WA's had its own version of the Voice for more than 50 years. How well has it worked?". ABC News. 11 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  15. Jenkins, Shannon (7 May 2021). "SA premier flags plan for Indigenous Voice to parliament". The Mandarin. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  16. Smith, Douglas (23 March 2022). "What SA's new govt wants to achieve in Aboriginal affairs". NITV. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  17. "Next steps in implementing the Uluru Statement". Premier of South Australia. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  18. Katsaras, Jason (19 January 2023). "Green light for SA's Indigenous Voice to Parliament". InDaily. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  19. Manfield, Evelyn (19 January 2023). "South Australia set to get First Nations' Voice to Parliament after proposal wins Greens' support". ABC News. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  20. Katsaras, Jason (20 January 2023). "'Going backwards': SA native title bodies raise Voice concerns". InDaily. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  21. "Say No To The South Australian 'Voice'". Pauline Hanson's One Nation. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  22. "South Australian Liberals to oppose state First Nations Voice to Parliament proposal". ABC News. 20 February 2023.
  23. Richards, Stephanie (21 February 2023). "'Range of flaws': SA Libs to oppose Voice to Parliament". InDaily.
  24. McClaren, Rory; Pestrin, Stacey (26 March 2023). "SA becomes first Australian jurisdiction to create First Nations Voice to Parliament as historic bill passes". ABC News.
  25. "Cheers and joy as South Australia becomes first state to legislate Indigenous voice to parliament". SBS News. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  26. "First Nations Voice to Parliament special event". Department of the Premier and Cabinet (South Australia). 20 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  27. Opie, Rebecca (27 March 2023). "SA's historic Indigenous Voice to Parliament has passed, but what happens now?". ABC News. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  28. Coorey, Phillip (29 June 2023). "Voice to parliament: South Australia loses its Voice for six months to avoid confusion". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  29. Richards, Stephanie (29 June 2023). "South Australian government pushes back state Voice to Parliament elections by six months". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  30. "This state had the second-highest No vote, so why is it introducing its own Voice?".
  31. "Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander - Elected Body". Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Elected Body. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  32. "Members". Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Elected Body. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  33. "2021 ATSIEB Election". Retrieved 20 October 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.