Independent Member for MacKillop Nick McBride has been rebuked by Premier Peter Malinauskas over his apparent backflip on his stance on the Indigenous Voice to State Parliament.


It arose from a question posed to the Premier by Mr McBride in the House of Assembly last week.


“Why is the Premier going ahead with a State Voice to Parliament when there is no mandate from the South Australian public?” Mr McBride asked.


“In October 2023 the constitutional referendum on the Voice was rejected by the Australian people.


“South Australia had the second highest no vote, behind Queensland, with nearly 65% saying no.


“In the recent election of the state-based Voice, less than 10% of those who were eligible to vote actually voted.


“People in my electorate of MacKillop believe the millions the SA Voice would cost taxpayers would be better spent on improving cost of living pressures and health and education in our regions.”


In reply, Premier Malinauskas defended the actions of his government and said both the Liberal and Labor parties went to the 2022 State Election with a position to institute an Indigenous Voice to the SA Parliament.


“Indeed, if you do not mind me saying so, Member for MacKillop, you went to the last election endorsing it, as a member of a political party and a government at the time whose policy was to institute a Voice to Parliament,” Premier Malinauskas said.


“In fact, I do not want to seem cute, but we were at one on this issue only two years ago.”