Speeches
Wednesday, 03 June 2026
Morning Tea for members of the South Australian First Nations Voice to Parliament
Rod and I warmly welcome you all to Government House.
First of all, congratulations to all elected members.
Some of you return for a second term on the Voice, equipped with the wisdom of experience, while those of you who are new, bring vision and enthusiasm.
Today we celebrate the commencement of a new four-year term and a renewed mandate from First Nations communities across this state to carry your perspectives into the highest levels of decision-making in South Australia.
As Governor, I am heartened by what the Voice has already achieved in just two years of operation.
I say that with a clear understanding of what it has taken to reach this point, building an entirely new institution while simultaneously doing the work that institution exists to do.
Convening 49 Local Voice meetings, 10 meetings of the State Voice, and hosting more than 30 community engagements across this vast state, from the APY Lands all the way to the South East, is an impressive contribution for a body that was, as Leeroy Bilney, Joint Presiding Member, described it in his 2024 address to Parliament, ‘building the plane while flying it’.
No doubt the work was challenging and tiring at times, and I thank elected members and the Secretariat staff for their dedication and resilience during the Voice’s first term.
I also wish to acknowledge a defining moment in the Voice's short but significant history.
When Ms Danni Smith delivered the annual address on the floor of Parliament in 2025 in her capacity as Joint Presiding Member, she became the first Aboriginal woman to address the South Australian Parliament — an important moment in our state’s journey to reconciliation.
I’m pleased to see Danni with us today, having been elected for a second term.
Across the six regions, each member brings to this work a distinct set of priorities and perspectives, shaped by local communities, local histories, and local needs.
It is precisely that diversity of voices that gives this institution its vitality, its credibility, and its legitimacy.
As Governor, I believe deeply that some of our best ideas are developed through actively listening to other people.
The Voice exists to ensure that government and Parliament do exactly that: listening more carefully, and more consistently, to First Nations South Australians on the matters that affect their lives.
The commencement of this new term, with 24 returning members and 22 newly elected colleagues, is an opportunity to build upon the strong governance foundations already established.
It’s also an opportunity to strengthen ties with communities and with Parliament, and to further embed the Voice's vital role in the public life of this state.
I am encouraged by the dedication that each member here today has demonstrated simply by seeking election: to put your name forward, to campaign, to be chosen by your communities, and to carry the weight of their expectations, is a demonstration of devotion.
I also thank the Secretariat for its diligent and crucial support, which enables Voice members to carry out their legislated functions.
Members, I wish you all the best for this term.
May the outcomes of your work be felt in communities across South Australia for generations to come.