The Hon. David Speirs, Leader of the Opposition (SA), The Hon. Josh Teague, Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (SA), Joint Media Release, 11 April 2024
The Opposition is calling on Peter Malinauskas to explain how he plans on delivering his election commitments of Treaty and Truth following the recent state-based Voice to Parliament elections.
The Malinauskas Labor Government’s election commitment says: South Australian Labor has already committed to a state-based implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart that includes Voice, Treaty and Truth.
The recent South Australian Voice to Parliament elections saw less than 10 per cent of the eligible population turn out to vote with some of the 46 successful candidates elected with as few as six votes.
The state-based Voice to Parliament, at a cost of more than $10 million, was just one part of the Malinauskas Labor Government’s election commitment with no details on how the rest of their commitment will be delivered.
Since the Referendum defeat of the Federal Voice, where 65 per cent of South Australians voted no, Peter Malinauskas has taken a huge step back from centre stage and the promotion of the state-based Voice – a far cry from the special Sunday sitting of Parliament led by the Premier last year.
Leader of the Opposition, David Speirs, said Peter Malinauskas must be clear and transparent about his plans for Treaty and Truth in South Australia.
“The Liberal Party opposed the state-based Voice to Parliament because we believe the process was rushed and the model is flawed,” Mr Speirs said.
“To have less than 10 per cent of the eligible population turn out to vote is concerning and raises significant questions regarding the Voice’s legitimacy.
“In some instances, candidates have been elected off the back of as few as six votes which falls well short of a robust democratic process.
“The Voice to Parliament was just the first part of the Malinauskas Labor Government’s election commitment and it’s now time for the Premier to outline his plans for Treaty and Truth.”
Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Josh Teague, said it appears the Premier has lost interest in a state-based implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
“Many South Australians have told me they’re surprised to learn that we actually have a Voice to Parliament in our state’s legislation after such a strong rejection of the national proposal,” Mr Teague said.
“Peter Malinauskas has been surprisingly quiet about his broader election commitment to deliver a state-based implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart that includes Voice, Treaty and Truth.
“We must remember that this is a Premier that held a special Sunday sitting of Parliament to celebrate the passing of the Voice to Parliament legislation.
“But since South Australia’s categoric rejection at the referendum Peter Malinauskas has been nowhere to be seen and South Australians deserve answers.”
