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AAP
AAP
Politics
Tim Dornin

SA's voice to parliament laws set to pass

Greens MP Tammy Franks is looking forward to the First Nations voice to SA's parliament. (Morgan Sette/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

The South Australian government's legislation introducing a First Nations voice to state parliament looks certain to pass with the Greens pledging support.

The government's bill is expected to come before the house in February.

While Labor has the numbers in the lower house, it needs support from crossbench MPs or the Liberal opposition to get it through the upper house.

"I look forward to working with the government to see the fruition of a state First Nations voice to parliament," Greens MP Tammy Franks said in a statement on Friday.

Attorney-General and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher said the commitment from the Greens meant SA was "one step closer to an Australian first" with "Aboriginal people having more of a say in the decisions that affect their lives".

SA's First Nations draft bill was released last year and provided to Indigenous communities for feedback.

The bill proposed regions with directly-elected representatives be established around SA.

The number of members and regions was yet to be determined but each would have equal male and female numbers.

Two members from each group would then form the State First Nations Voice which would address parliament on particular legislation of interest to Aboriginal people, provide reports to parliament and engage with ministers and department chief executives on budgets and priorities.

Those elected to regional groups and the state body would serve a four-year term, in line with state parliamentary terms.

At the time, Premier Peter Malinauskas said it was important that Aboriginal people had the ability to express their hopes and aspirations for their people in the state's supreme decision-making body and that meant speaking on the floor of parliament itself.

While SA's Commissioner for a First Nations Voice Dale Agius said Indigenous South Australians wanted to have a say in their affairs based on the principle of self-determination.

"They want to be able to influence the decisions being made about them at the highest of levels," he said.

"Overwhelmingly people have told me about the need for grassroots voices to be heard and that first nations people should choose who represents them."

The Liberals have offered broad support for an engagement body but are waiting to see the detail in the government's legislation.

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