On 25 July 2025 State Voice Presiding Members Danni Smith and Leeroy Bilney sat with the Premier, Ministers and Chief Executives to ask questions about First Nations housing, justice and policing.
The inaugural Engagement Hearing was held in May 2025. While successful, it identified further and better ways for the Voice to talk with government, and invited greater communication and collaboration.
Since the first hearing, Leeroy and Danni have met directly with Ministers and Chief Executives to share community views captured through Local Voices. They also visited Adelaide prisons with the Hon. Emily Bourke MLC (Minister for Correctional Services) and David Brown (Chief Executive, Department for Correctional Services) to hear first-hand from residents.
These informal meetings with government helped prepare Danni and Leeroy for the latest two Engagement Hearings relating to Housing and Infrastructure, and Justice and Policing. Through a richer understanding of current programs and initiatives, they could be more targeted with their questioning, and offering ideas for solutions informed by the lived experiences of community.
The Voice will now be working closely with government to develop ideas for policies and programs to improve the lives of First Nations South Australians in line with their focus areas.
In September the State Voice will have a meeting with Cabinet about justice, policing and incarceration.
