The Hon. Ashton Hurn, State Liberal Leader; The Hon. Josh Teague, Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Joint Media Release, 3 May 2026

The State Liberals will introduce legislation to repeal the First Nations Voice when Parliament resumes this week.

The First Nations Voice Repeal Bill will make way for its replacement – practical, targeted support for Indigenous South Australians and a revived Aboriginal Lands Committee.

After years of operation, the recent Voice election recorded participation of less than 11 per cent of the 32,000 enrolled Indigenous voters – a clear vote of no confidence from the very people the body was designed to serve.

Australians strongly rejected the Voice at the 2023 referendum, yet the State Labor Government ignored that verdict and arrogantly pushed on. Today they barely talk about it, and it’s time to admit they got it wrong.

State Liberal Leader Ashton Hurn said her team was committed to prioritising practical action to close the unacceptable gaps in health, education and employment outcomes for Indigenous South Australians.

“Listening to Indigenous South Australians is essential and it’s clear from the recent Voice election that it’s not a model that has support, ” Mrs Hurn said.

“Our focus is on ensuring the structures we have in place are effective and deliver real, practical results on the ground.

“Real progress requires well-designed measures that make a genuine difference – and that is exactly where our commitment lies.

“We all share the goal of closing the gap, but we must pursue policies and structures that actually deliver.

“We will continue to engage with Aboriginal leaders, service providers and local communities to build policies that create genuine, lasting progress.”

Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Josh Teague urged the government to reinstate the bipartisan Aboriginal Lands Committee, which had delivered real, practical outcomes and support.

“One example was its role in progressing renal dialysis services for Aboriginal people living on the APY Lands,” Mr Teague said.

Mr Teague said some of the money saved by removing the Voice should be redirected to commonsense initiatives that help close gaps in health, education and employment outcomes.

“Listening to Aboriginal South Australians remains crucial, but we must be focused on programs that deliver meaningful improvements in people’s lives,” Mr Teague said.

“That’s why we call on this Government to scrap the voice and reinstate mechanisms like the Aboriginal Lands Committee, which has already proven its worth.

“Adding another layer of bureaucracy has not delivered better outcomes for Aboriginal people.”