Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander South Australians will have the opportunity to elect their own representatives to the Voice body in 2024.
South Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will be given more time to enrol to vote and nominate to be part of the state’s First Nations Voice to State Parliament, with the First Nations Voice election now scheduled to take place on 16 March 2024.
The decision to extend the timeframe was made in consultation with both the South Australian Electoral Commissioner and the Commissioner for First Nations Voice.
The Commissioners have advised that the increasing prominence given to the Commonwealth Referendum and the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ campaigns is causing confusion and making it harder to inform communities about the State First Nations Voice to Parliament, and how people can enrol and nominate.
Extending the timeframe from the previously planned date of 9 September 2023 will give both Commissioners the opportunity to better inform communities about the process involved for people wishing to nominate or enrol to vote.
Under the new schedule:
The nominations period for those wishing to stand for election for a Local First Nations Voice will open from Monday 22 January 2024 to Monday 12 February 2024. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander South Australians wishing to vote in the Voice elections must enrol by Monday 12 February 2024.
The early voting period will be open Monday 4 March 2024 to Friday 15 March 2024, with polling day taking place Saturday 16 March 2024.
The Government has also extended the contract for the Commissioner for First Nations Voice, Dale Agius, to ensure he can continue his work until the election process has concluded.
Quotes
Attributable to Kyam Maher
The South Australian First Nations Voice to State Parliament is a historic first for our nation.
The clear advice I’ve received from both the Electoral Commissioner and the Commissioner for First Nations Voice is that the work being done in South Australia is being overshadowed by the debate occurring at a national level around both the ‘Yes’ and the ‘No’ referendum campaigns.
We have done so much work to support the South Australian Voice and it will be proceeding regardless of the outcome of the referendum.
By allowing for more time, we’re giving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in South Australia the opportunity to fully understand how they can get involved and take the time to campaign, with distance from the discussion about the national Voice.
Attributable to Commissioner for First Nations Voice, Dale Agius
I have been continuing to have conversations with community about South Australia’s First Nations Voice and how they can be involved through the first elections to represent their communities and local regions.
I am hearing more and more that people are needing more time to learn more about the final model and how to get involved with the elections, but that the debate around the National Referendum is making this increasingly challenging.
People have told me that having more time is something that would be beneficial, to go through the referendum process, and to then focus on participating in the SA Voice elections.
