First Nations to elect South Australia’s Voice to Parliament

ABC NEWS (Australia)

First Nations South Australian are heading to the polls to elect the country’s first state-based Voice to Parliament. More than 100 candidates have put their hands up to run ahead of polling day on March the 16th.

Transcript

00:00 These polling booths behind me will open later this morning to First Nations people wanting

00:06 to cast early votes in SA's first voice to Parliament election.

00:11 The SA voice will be made up of local First Nations people who will be tasked with providing

00:15 advice to South Australia's government and Parliament.

00:18 Now all up, 113 people have put their hands up to run for six local regional voices.

00:24 Two representatives from each region will then form the state voice.

00:28 This election is being held just four months after more than 64% of South Australians voted

00:33 against enshrining a federal voice in the Constitution.

00:37 South Australia had the second highest no vote at the October referendum, but the SA

00:41 government says unlike the failed federal proposal, it didn't need to alter the state's

00:46 constitution.

00:47 Instead, it established the voice through legislation.

00:50 Here in Port Lincoln on Bungalow country, First Nations people say they're hopeful the

00:54 voice will improve their community.

00:57 History will indicate quite clearly that there hasn't been enough listening.

01:01 I think this voice will actually enable us as representatives to ask the community, you

01:09 know, what is it that you want and what do you need to be able to support you.

01:15 Voting in the SA voice elections is voluntary and only open to enrolled Aboriginal and Torres

01:20 Strait Islander voters.

01:22 They have just under two weeks to cast early votes ahead of polling day on March 16, but

01:27 the SA electoral commission says they won't declare the results until March 25.

01:31 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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