2024 South Australian First Nations Voice election

The 2024 South Australian First Nations Voice election was held on 16 March 2024 to elect the inaugural members of the First Nations Voice to Parliament, an advisory body for Indigenous Australians in the Parliament of South Australia.

2024 South Australian First Nations Voice election

16 March 2024 2026 →

Unlike state and federal elections, voting was not compulsory, and voter turnout was low.

Background

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After the election of a state Labor government in 2022, new Premier Peter Malinauskas pledged to implement this state-based Voice to Parliament.[1]

The bill passed in a special Sunday sitting of parliament on 26 March 2023 and was given royal assent immediately afterwards.[2][3]

The SA Voice to Parliament was established by legislation and is not enshrined in the constitution of South Australia.[4] Dale Agius is the South Australian First Nations Voice Commissioner, in charge of the process to create the new body.[4]

Implementation of the SA Voice was delayed for six months owing to possible confusion introduced by the debate about the national referendum on a national Voice in October.[5]

After the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum in which over 60% of South Australians voted against the Voice, state Liberal leader David Speirs cast some doubt on the state voice. One Nation MP Sarah Game announced plans to introduce a bill calling for the First Nations Voice Act 2023 to be repealed.[6]

Constituencies and process

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There are six electoral constituencies, and unlike state and federal elections, voting is not compulsory. Around 14,000 Aboriginal people live in Adelaide, and between 3,000 to 4,000 in each of five regional constituencies. There are 11 representatives for the central Adelaide Voice, and seven for each regional Voice, making a total of 46.[4]

Candidate nominations opened on 22 January 2024.[7] By 1 March 2024, 113 people had nominated to stand as candidates, with over a third from Adelaide.[4]

The elections for the SA body took place on 16 March 2024,[8] and vote counting began on 25 March, to allow for all postal votes to be received.[9]

Outcome

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Turnout was reported to be low, with fewer than 10% of eligible electors voting.[10][11] However, Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher described it as a successful election, saying that the Voice was "well on track", and that it would take time to build awareness and engagement. One of the successful candidates, Douglas Clinch, attributed the low turnout partly to the lack of attention given to the election by mainstream media.[12]

First meeting

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The inaugural meeting of the 12-member Voice, held on 12 June 2024, elected Central region representative Tahlia Wanganeen and West Coast representative Leeroy Bilney as presiding members, who would be delegated to speak to Parliament.[13]

Results

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The results of the election were as follows:[14]

Central

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2024 South Australian First Nations Voice election: Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Quota 95
Independent Moogy Sumner (elected) 178 15.8
Independent Susan Dixon (elected) 93 8.2
Independent April Lawrie (elected) 70 6.2
Independent Deb Moyle (elected) 65 5.8
Independent Douglas Clinch (elected) 58 5.1
Independent Cheryl Axleby (elected) 44 3.9
Independent Rosalind Coleman (elected) 44 3.9
Independent Marnie O'Meara 43 3.8
Independent Tahlia Wanganeen (elected) 46 3.6
Independent Jennifer Caruso 41 3.6
Independent Khatija Thomas 35 3.1
Independent Patricia Waria-Read 30 2.7
Independent Robert Leidig (elected) 27 2.4
Independent Scott Wilson (elected) 25 2.2
Independent Harold Stewart 22 1.9
Independent Yvonne Agius 20 1.8
Independent Kim O'Donnell 20 1.8
Independent John Carbine 19 1.7
Independent Tony Wayne Minniecon (elected) 19 1.7
Independent Chris Rigney-Thyer 19 1.7
Independent Kimberley Wanganeen 19 1.7
Independent Sonia Waters 19 1.7
Independent Kylie O'Loughlin 18 1.6
Independent Sherrell Dyer (Bonney-Williams) 17 1.5
Independent Sandy Miller 15 1.3
Independent Isaiah Rigney 15 1.3
Independent Jakirah Telfer 14 1.2
Independent John Lochowiak 13 1.2
Independent Cheryl Lynn Saunders 13 1.2
Independent Cheryl Cairns 12 1.1
Independent Phillip Sumner-Graham 9 0.8
Independent Gloria Fernandes 7 0.6
Independent Naomi Marie Hicks 7 0.6
Independent Debra Rose Axleby 6 0.5
Independent Anna Schkabaryn 6 0.5
Independent Evelyn Varcoe 6 0.5
Independent Jane Nelson 5 0.4
Independent Stacey Bates 4 0.4
Independent Michael S. Turner 4 0.4
Independent Courtney Hunter-Hebberman 3 0.3
Independent Raymond Sumner 0 0.0
Total formal votes 1,130
Informal votes 15
Turnout 1,145

Far North

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2024 South Australian First Nations Voice election: Far North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Quota 38
Independent Mark Campbell (elected) 70 23.3
Independent Melissa Thompson (elected) 52 17.3
Independent Johnathon Lyons (elected) 49 16.3
Independent Christopher Dodd (elected) 26 8.6
Independent Dharma Ducasse-Singer (elected) 26 8.6
Independent Dean Robin Walker 24 8.0
Independent Donald Fraser (elected) 18 6.0
Independent Jonathon Fatt-Clifton 14 4.7
Independent Dawn Brown (elected) 11 3.7
Independent Sharon E. Ah Chee 5 1.7
Independent Anna Strzelecki 4 1.3
Independent Ian Crombie 2 0.7
Independent Sandra Taylor 0 0.0
Total formal votes 301
Informal votes 4
Turnout 305

Flinders and Upper North

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2024 South Australian First Nations Voice election: Flinders and Upper North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Quota 48
Independent Charles Jackson (elected) 70 18.5
Independent Lavene Ngatokorua (elected) 47 12.4
Independent Rob Singleton (elected) 40 10.6
Independent Kerri Coulthard (elected) 38 10.1
Independent Ralph Coulthard (elected) 35 9.3
Independent Candace Champion (elected) 28 7.4
Independent T.J. Thomas (elected) 27 7.1
Independent Darcy Coulthard 24 6.3
Independent Janette Milera 21 5.6
Independent Dawn Likouresis 18 4.8
Independent John Reid 15 4.0
Independent Garry Victor Burgoyne 14 3.7
Independent Tataka Stella Newland 1 0.3
Total formal votes 378
Informal votes 378
Turnout 380

Riverland and South East

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2024 South Australian First Nations Voice election: Riverland and South East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Quota 36
Independent Danni Smith (elected) 69 24.2
Independent Eunice Aston (elected) 37 13.0
Independent Sheryl Giles (elected) 33 11.6
Independent Rob Wright (elected) 28 9.8
Independent Tim Hartman (elected) 26 9.1
Independent Darryle Barnes (elected) 17 6.0
Independent Lisa Rigney (elected) 17 6.0
Independent Cheryle Saunders 17 6.0
Independent David Paul Crompton 11 3.9
Independent Freda Mills 9 3.2
Independent Dan Mitchell-Matthews 9 3.2
Independent Christine Abdulla 5 1.8
Independent Michael Harris 5 1.8
Independent Lauren Letton 2 0.7
Total formal votes 285
Informal votes 4
Turnout 289

West and West Coast

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2024 South Australian First Nations Voice election: West and West Coast
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Quota 46
Independent Jack Johncock (elected) 80 22.2
Independent Lorraine Haseldine (elected) 50 13.9
Independent Cecelia Cox (elected) 44 12.2
Independent Duane Edwards (elected) 40 11.1
Independent Leeroy Bilney (elected) 36 10.0
Independent Keenan Smith (elected) 17 4.7
Independent Robert Larking 15 4.2
Independent Rebecca Miller (elected) 12 3.3
Independent Roslyn Peters 12 3.3
Independent Dora Queama 12 3.3
Independent Evelyn Walker 12 3.3
Independent Lorraine Garay 10 2.8
Independent Robert Miller 4 1.1
Independent Shania Richards 4 1.1
Independent Rob Walsh 4 1.1
Independent Mark Young 4 1.1
Independent Denise Baker 3 0.8
Independent Cameron Bridley 1 0.3
Independent Fiona May 0 0.0
Total formal votes 360
Informal votes 8
Turnout 368

Yorke and Mid-North

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2024 South Australian First Nations Voice election: Yorke and Mid-North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Quota 17
Independent Raymond Wanganeen (elected) 24 18.6
Independent Doug Milera (elected) 20 15.5
Independent Quentin Agius (elected) 16 12.4
Independent Joy Makepeace (elected) 14 10.9
Independent Rex Angie 11 8.5
Independent Eddie Newchurch (elected) 11 8.5
Independent Kaylene O'Loughlin (elected) 10 7.8
Independent Ken Tilbrook 6 4.7
Independent Denise Wanganeen (elected) 6 4.7
Independent Josh Jenner 5 3.9
Independent Mathew Brice 3 2.3
Independent Lorraine Karpany 3 2.3
Independent Robert Rigney 0 0.0
Total formal votes 129
Informal votes 3
Turnout 132

References

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  1. ^ Smith, Douglas (23 March 2022). "What SA's new govt wants to achieve in Aboriginal affairs". NITV. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  2. ^ McClaren, Rory; Pestrin, Stacey (26 March 2023). "SA becomes first Australian jurisdiction to create First Nations Voice to Parliament as historic bill passes". ABC News.
  3. ^ "Cheers and joy as South Australia becomes first state to legislate Indigenous voice to parliament". SBS News. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d Richards, Stephanie (2 March 2024). "SA First Nations Voice to give Aboriginal people 'a seat at the table', commissioner says". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  5. ^ Coorey, Phillip (29 June 2023). "Voice to parliament: South Australia loses its Voice for six months to avoid confusion". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  6. ^ Staszewska, Ewa (15 October 2023). "This state had the second-highest No vote, so why is it introducing its own Voice?". SBS News.
  7. ^ "2024 South Australian First Nations Voice Election". Electoral Commission SA.
  8. ^ Richards, Stephanie (29 June 2023). "South Australian government pushes back state Voice to Parliament elections by six months". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  9. ^ "About the Voice". 2024 South Australian First Nations Voice election.
  10. ^ Van Der Heyden, Monique (28 March 2024). "Voice falls flat: More than 90 per cent of eligible voters rebuff SA Voice to Parliament". Sky News. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  11. ^ "'Poor turnout': Majority of SA's Voice eligible voters fail to cast ballots". The Advertiser.
  12. ^ "SA First Nations Voice election results show low turnout, but candidate urges 'give us a chance'". ABC News. 29 March 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  13. ^ Kelsall, Thomas (14 June 2024). "Leaders of SA's Voice to Parliament revealed". InDaily. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  14. ^ "Results". 2024 South Australian First Nations Voice election. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024.