90 Percent of Indigenous People Did Not Vote in South Australia’s Voice Referendum

Voters arrive to cast their ballot at the Old Australian Parliament House, during The Voice referendum in Canberra, Australia, October 14, 2023. Reuters/Tracey Nearmy

In South Australia, 90 percent of approximately 30,000 eligible Indigenous voters chose not to cast a ballot in the state’s Voice referendum on March 16, where voting was not compulsory.

Additionally, more than 64 percent of all South Australians rejected a national Voice to Parliament, the second highest “no” majority in the federal referendum in October 2023.

Despite this, the state government has allocated $10.3 million (US$6.7 million) over four years for the Voice, including $6.1 million to establish and support ongoing operations and $4.2 million to conduct the first two elections.

Only Indigenous people were eligible to vote in the SA Voice election and only Indigenous people were permitted to nominate.

Before the State vote, RMIT CrossCheck, an online verification service, highlighted the recurrence of the claim that the proposal would be “racially divisive,” previously used by opponents of the federal Voice.

Other assertations also circulated, such as the proposal granting Indigenous Australians “special rights” and being labelled “racist” due to its exclusivity to one group.

Douglas Clinch, one of those elected to the new body, attributed the low turnout to a lack of media coverage.

“I think there probably wasn’t as much promotion through some of the mainstream mediums like news and TV,” he said.

“I think as we grow momentum around the Voice, people might start to understand how it can make a difference in their life. Hopefully, through that, we can grow trust and get buy-in from [the] community.”

He rejected mandatory voting as a solution.

“I don’t think it should be made compulsory. I think putting more obligations on them to come out and vote wouldn’t feel right,” he said.

‘Step in the Right Direction’: Elected Member

Mr. Clinch is the elected member of the Voice’s Central Region, which includes the greater Adelaide area.

“I’m over the moon,” he said of his election. “To know that they see value in me and the way I advocate for the community means a lot. I certainly believe the voice is a step in the right direction and something that I’m keen to be involved with.”

Voice candidate Stacey Bates said it was wanted in Indigenous communities, despite only 8.73 percent of the eligible population deciding to vote.

“There are a lot of First Nation people who think it’s not the answer, but the reason for that is because they want sovereignty,” she explained.

“This is the next best thing to take affirmative action and step into a place where we can influence a white colonial government. What we are doing now isn’t working so the Voice is a chance to actually do something different.”

Indigenous People ‘Taking Time to Heal’: Minister

The State’s Aboriginal affairs minister Kyam Maher said some Indigenous voters were still coming to terms with the defeat, by a large margin, of the national Voice referendum.

“There is a hangover from the referendum in terms of some people not wanting to be engaged,” Mr. Maher said.

“A lot of Aboriginal people gave a lot of themselves during the voice campaign and they have been taking time to heal.”

South Australia’s First Nations Voice will have 12 representatives, selected from the 46 members elected from six Local First Nations Voices across the state.

It will be able to address either house of parliament on any bill relevant to South Australia’s Indigenous population, but will not have veto powers or decision-making powers in South Australia’s Parliament.

The model was decided upon after extensive consultation with Indigenous communities and organisations.