Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Welcome to the next instalment of Friday Focus: South Australia’s First Nations Voice Flop, Take Two.
You may remember back in 2023, Australians were subjected to a racialised national referendum to determine whether people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent were worthy of having their own Voice to Parliament—a privilege denied to the rest of the population. Regular Aussies didn’t buy it. As the BBC noted at the time: “The country has overwhelmingly voted No to a proposal aimed at elevating First Nations voices.”
But despite this clear defeat, the South Australian Government went ahead with their plans and implemented a state-level version anyway. They pushed forward even though the ABC headlines were explicit: “SA rejects Voice to Parliament as overwhelming majority backs No vote.” Even SBS seemed to question the logic, asking: “This state had the second-highest No vote, so why is it introducing its own Voice?”
Good question.
It seems democracy in the Festival State is a beautiful thing, right up until the public gives the wrong answer and needs to be ignored for their own good.
So they implemented their own Voice and held their first racial elections in March 2024. Given that this was a historic, first-of-its-kind institution, what percentage of eligible Aboriginal people do you think turned out? 90%? Surely at least 80%?
Not quite.
The ABC headline laid it bare: “SA Voice voter turnout low, but successful candidate urges ‘give us a chance’.”
Just how low is “low”? The report confirmed that fewer than 10 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballot in the election.
But don’t worry, the state’s Aboriginal Affairs Minister quickly swooped in to describe the election as “successful.” Hallelujah! It’s an absolute miracle. Almost 10% of the targeted population actually bothered to vote. I can only assume the government was expecting zero.
But it gets better.
In November that same year, the ABC declared: “SA’s First Nations Voice to Parliament hit by resignations amid concerns about ‘unsustainable’ model.”
But don’t worry, only four elected members and a senior staff member resigned.
And now, two years down the track, the second Voice elections have wrapped up. Now that the community has had plenty of time to get used to the idea, do you think South Australia’s Aboriginal population stepped up to vote in overwhelming numbers?
Nah.
The National Indigenous Times declared: “Liddle targets South Australian Voice following second low voter turnout.”
According to the article, “only 3,308 votes were cast from more than 30,000 eligible Indigenous voters—less than 11 per cent.”
It’s an absolute miracle! Two years ago, turnout was less than 10 per cent. Now, it’s skyrocketed to less than 11 per cent.
Finally, South Australian Aboriginal people have a voice… they just choose not to use it.
MUSIC
Allégro by Emmit Fenn
Welcome to the next instalment of Friday Focus: South Australia’s First Nations Voice Flop, Take Two.
You may remember back in 2023, Australians were subjected to a racialised national referendum to determine whether people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent were worthy of having their own Voice to Parliament—a privilege denied to the rest of the population. Regular Aussies didn’t buy it. As the BBC noted at the time: “The country has overwhelmingly voted No to a proposal aimed at elevating First Nations voices.”
But despite this clear defeat, the South Australian Government went ahead with their plans and implemented a state-level version anyway. They pushed forward even though the ABC headlines were explicit: “SA rejects Voice to Parliament as overwhelming majority backs No vote.” Even SBS seemed to question the logic, asking: “This state had the second-highest No vote, so why is it introducing its own Voice?”
Good question.
It seems democracy in the Festival State is a beautiful thing, right up until the public gives the wrong answer and needs to be ignored for their own good.
So they implemented their own Voice and held their first racial elections in March 2024. Given that this was a historic, first-of-its-kind institution, what percentage of eligible Aboriginal people do you think turned out? 90%? Surely at least 80%?
Not quite.
The ABC headline laid it bare: “SA Voice voter turnout low, but successful candidate urges ‘give us a chance’.”
Just how low is “low”? The report confirmed that fewer than 10 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballot in the election.
But don’t worry, the state’s Aboriginal Affairs Minister quickly swooped in to describe the election as “successful.” Hallelujah! It’s an absolute miracle. Almost 10% of the targeted population actually bothered to vote. I can only assume the government was expecting zero.
But it gets better.
In November that same year, the ABC declared: “SA’s First Nations Voice to Parliament hit by resignations amid concerns about ‘unsustainable’ model.”
But don’t worry, only four elected members and a senior staff member resigned.
And now, two years down the track, the second Voice elections have wrapped up. Now that the community has had plenty of time to get used to the idea, do you think South Australia’s Aboriginal population stepped up to vote in overwhelming numbers?
Nah.
The National Indigenous Times declared: “Liddle targets South Australian Voice following second low voter turnout.”
According to the article, “only 3,308 votes were cast from more than 30,000 eligible Indigenous voters—less than 11 per cent.”
It’s an absolute miracle! Two years ago, turnout was less than 10 per cent. Now, it’s skyrocketed to less than 11 per cent.
Finally, South Australian Aboriginal people have a voice… they just choose not to use it.
MUSIC
Allégro by Emmit Fenn
