South Australia's State First Nations Voice to Parliament held its first formal meeting in Adelaide this week, with Tahlia Wanganeen and Leeroy Bilney being elected by their peers as the Presiding Members for the 12-member State Voice.
The State Voice will be providing advice to State Parliament, the State Government and other key decision-makers on issues that affect South Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The joint Presiding Members will guide the State Voice's efforts to ensure it aligns to First Nations' community priorities.
The State Voice is made up of the 12 Presiding Members, chosen by each of the six regional Local Voices as follows:
| Region | Presiding Member |
|---|---|
| Central | Douglas Clinch |
| Tahlia Wanganeen* | |
| Far North | Mark Campbell |
| Melissa Thompson | |
| Flinders and Upper North | Rob Singleton |
| Candace Champion | |
| Riverland and South East | Danni Smith |
| Rob Wright | |
| West and West Coast | Cecelia Cox |
| Leeroy Bilney* | |
| Yorke and Mid-North | Raymond Wanganeen |
| Joy Makepeace |
* elected Presiding Members of the State Voice
"The establishment of this State Voice represents a vital step forward for community by ensuring that the decisions that impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people reflect the true needs of our communities based on our lived experiences.
"I am honoured to be elected to this important position by my community and now my peers on the State Voice. It is a big task, but we can do this together," said Tahlia Wanganeen, one of the two newly elected joint Presiding Members of the State Voice, and is a Narungga, Kaurna and Ngarrindjeri woman.
"We are committed to bringing the voices of our communities to government and others so that they are hearing directly from our communities and from people who may not have had a chance to share their views on matters that they care about deeply," said Leeroy Bilney, the other of the newly elected Presiding Members of the State Voice and is a Marlinyu Ghoorlie, Wirangu, Kokatha, Mirning, Noongar and Barngala man.
Members of the State Voice expressed their enthusiasm about the potential to make a significant impact for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in South Australia, by providing truthful advice to, and forming a respectful partnership with, the South Australian Parliament, Government of South Australia and other decision-makers.
The State Voice looks forward to experiencing genuine collaboration between government entities and key decision-makers to achieve better days for First Nations people and is confident that benefits will flow on to all South Australians.
