Member for MacKillop Nick McBride says he does not support the Australian Indigenous Voice referendum.

Mr McBride said the referendum was bureaucratic and would fail to deliver tangible outcomes for the indigenous people.

While he welcomed the intent of the Bill currently before the South Australian Parliament, which will create an Indigenous Voice, he expressed some reservations.

“In itself, the First Nations Voice Bill creates its own layers of bureaucracy. It is difficult to see how this process will work with or complement the range of work and mandates of a range of existing First Nations bodies, which are preserved under clause 7 of the bill,” he said.

“This model has been layered over the top of numerous existing advisory bodies, structures, and advocacy groups, which I am told number more than 190.

“The bill itself establishes layers of local and state bodies and at least four other possible separate advisory bodies.

“Will it actually assist in ensuring there are resources and policies directed efficiently in the best and most effective way possible to enhance education, decrease incarceration, and improve incomes and health outcomes?

Mr McBride said isolated communities were marginalised further when one looked at the various statistics.

“As I mentioned, I do hope that the bill does deliver better outcomes for our Indigenous people and communities.

“Unfortunately, I am not convinced.

“We can do lots of talking, but what we need is action. I would like to be convinced about how the First Nations Voice at the parliamentary level will ensure grassroots engagement and how delivery will occur with Indigenous people to deliver tangible outcomes.”

He said the Productivity Commission in the 2017 Indigenous Expenditure Report highlighted that the expenditure per person was around double for indigenous people in Australia compared with non- indigenous people.

“The resources are being allocated. Let’s make sure they are being used effectively. Let’s make sure our policy settings are right.

“I think we should rather be addressing some of the layered bureaucratic and delivery shortfalls in our current systems that have given rise to so many of the generational inequities that we see today.

As an elected member, I value small, efficient, and effective government. I do share the concerns I have heard about the bill.

“I am informed that it will cost $10 million over four years to implement. I am concerned about the bill as it is currently drafted, including the lack of detail about the remuneration of committee members; the electoral process; general allocations; how one individual not elected by all South Australians will be able to come into the parliament and speak on any or every bill; and the absence of a limit on the number of committees that can be established, their terms, and other details.

“More information is needed about how this proposal will play out.

“It is a very easy topic to talk about all the shortfalls, problems, and issues that we know, have seen, acknowledged, and observed right throughout South Australia and beyond.

“There is no doubt there are some massive issues. I am really worried that this process will create emotional connections.

“It meets a desire for greater conductivity and greater connection through voice, communication, and advocacy, but where is the substantial stuff that actually says what is going wrong today, what needs fixing, how can we make it better, how can we get it to where it is needed, and actually change the results and the outcomes that we know have been rolling on year after year in history?

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.