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.
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Unlike state and federal elections, voting was not compulsory, and voter turnout was low.
Background
editAfter 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 One Nation MP Sarah Game announced plans to introduce a bill calling for the First Nations Voice Act 2023 to be repealed.[6]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
editThere 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
editTurnout 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
editThe 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
editThe results of the election were as follows:[14]
Central
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit- ^ Smith, Douglas (23 March 2022). "What SA's new govt wants to achieve in Aboriginal affairs". NITV. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Cheers and joy as South Australia becomes first state to legislate Indigenous voice to parliament". SBS News. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Staszewska, Ewa (15 October 2023). "This state had the second-highest No vote, so why is it introducing its own Voice?". SBS News.
- ^ "2024 South Australian First Nations Voice Election". Electoral Commission SA.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "About the Voice". 2024 South Australian First Nations Voice election.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "'Poor turnout': Majority of SA's Voice eligible voters fail to cast ballots". The Advertiser.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Kelsall, Thomas (14 June 2024). "Leaders of SA's Voice to Parliament revealed". InDaily. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ "Results". 2024 South Australian First Nations Voice election. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024.