Engagement Hearings
In 2025 there were three engagement hearings to allow the State Voice Presiding Members to ask questions of Ministers and SA Government Chief Executives about the operations, expenditure, budget and priorities of administrative units they are responsible for.
Complete transcripts and further information are available by selecting each hearing below.
Transcript: First Nations Voice Engagement Hearing - Health and Wellbeing (Monday 19 May 2025 at 2:00pm)
Questions on notice: Response from Minister for Health and Wellbeing
On 19 May 2025, State Voice Presiding Members Danni Smith and Leeroy Bilney attended Parliament to ask questions of the Premier, Ministers and Chief Executives relating to the Health and Wellbeing of First Nations South Australians.
Attendees:
- Ms Danni Smith, Joint Presiding Member, State First Nations Voice
- Mr Leeroy Bilney, Joint Presiding Member, State First Nations Voice
- Hon. Peter Malinauskas MP, Premier of South Australia
- Hon. Kyam Maher MLC, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
- Hon. Stephen Mullighan MP, Treasurer
- Hon. Chris Picton MP, Minister for Health and Wellbeing
- Hon. Katrine Hildyard MP, Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence
- Hon. Nat Cook MP, Minister for Human Services
- Mr Rick Persse AM, Chief Executive, Department of the Premier and Cabinet
- Ms Caroline Mealor PSM, Chief Executive, Attorney-General’s Department
- Mr Sandy Burness, Acting Under Treasurer, Department of Treasury and Finance
- Dr Robyn Lawrence PSM, Chief Executive, Department for Health and Wellbeing
- Ms Melissa Bradley, Acting Chief Executive, Preventive Health SA
- Ms Jackie Bray, Chief Executive, Department for Child Protection
- Ms Sandy Pitcher, Chief Executive, Department of Human Services
Transcript: First Nations Voice Engagement Hearing - Housing and Infrastructure (Friday 25 July 2025 at 1:05pm)
Questions on notice: Response from SA Housing Trust
On 25 July 2025, State Voice Presiding Members Danni Smith and Leeroy Bilney attended Parliament to ask questions of the Premier, Ministers and Chief Executives relating to Housing and Infrastructure for First Nations South Australians.
Attendees:
- Ms Danni Smith, Joint Presiding Member, State First Nations Voice
- Mr Leeroy Bilney, Joint Presiding Member, State First Nations Voice
- Hon. Peter Malinauskas MP, Premier of South Australia
- Hon. Kyam Maher MLC, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
- Hon. Stephen Mullighan MP, Treasurer
- Hon. Nat Cook MP, Minister for Human Services
- Hon. Nick Champion MP, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Housing Infrastructure
- Mr Rick Persse AM, Chief Executive, Department of the Premier and Cabinet
- Ms Caroline Mealor PSM, Chief Executive, Attorney-General’s Department
- Mr Sandy Burness, Acting Chief Executive, Department of Treasury and Finance
- Ms Alex Reid, Acting Chief Executive, Department of Human Services
- Mr David Reynolds PSM, Chief Executive, Department for Housing and Urban Development
- Mr Chris Menz, Chief Executive, Renewal SA
- Ms Julie-Anne Burgess, Chief Executive, South Australian Housing Trust.
Transcript: First Nations Voice Engagement Hearing - Justice and Policing (Friday 25 July 2025 at 3:00pm)
Questions on notice: Response from Courts Administration Authority
On 25 July 2025, State Voice Presiding Members Danni Smith and Leeroy Bilney attended Parliament to ask questions of the Premier, Ministers and Chief Executives relating to Justice and Policing for First Nations South Australians.
Attendees:
- Ms Danni Smith, Joint Presiding Member, State First Nations Voice
- Mr Leeroy Bilney, Joint Presiding Member, State First Nations Voice
- Hon. Peter Malinauskas MP, Premier of South Australia
- Hon. Kyam Maher MLC, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
- Hon. Stephen Mullighan MP, Treasurer
- Hon. Nat Cook MP, Minister for Human Services
- Hon. Emily Bourke MLC, Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services
- Hon. Nick Champion MP, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Housing Infrastructure
- Mr Rick Persse AM, Chief Executive, Department of the Premier and Cabinet
- Ms Caroline Mealor PSM, Chief Executive, Attorney-General’s Department
- Ms Penny Croser, State Courts Administrator, Courts Administration Authority
- Mr Sandy Burness, Acting Chief Executive, Department of Treasury and Finance
- Mr Ian Parrott, Assistant Commissioner for Police
- Ms Alex Reid, Acting Chief Executive, Department of Human Services
- Mr David Brown PSM, Chief Executive, Department for Correctional Services.
- Ms Julie-Anne Burgess, Chief Executive, South Australian Housing Trust.
Briefings with Chief Executives
In 2025 there were two meetings held to allow the State Voice to be briefed by and ask questions of SA Government Chief Executives about matters of interest to the Voice.
These briefings were held in a facilitated workshop format to allow Voice Members and government representatives to work collaboratively on solutions to identified gaps in government service provision.
More information about each briefing can be shown by selecting them below.
On 26 June 2025, members of the State Voice met with Chief Executives of the South Australian Government to discuss matters relating to Health and Wellbeing, and Housing and Infrastructure for First Nations communities in South Australia. These discussions were guided by regional perspectives gathered by Local First Nations Voices from communities across the State. This input helped shape the conversations and provided valuable advice to the SA Government on how these focus areas in each Chief Executives respective portfolio affect and impact First Nations people in South Australia and what community has highlighted as solutions.
Attendees
- Ms Danni Smith, Joint Presiding Member, Presiding Member of Murraylands, Riverland and South East Region
- Mr Leeroy Bilney, Joint Presiding Member, Presiding Member of West and West Coast Region
- Douglas Clinch, Presiding Member of Kumangka Warrarna Wangkanthi (Central) Region
- Susan Dixon, Presiding Member of Kumangka Warrarna Wangkanthi (Central) Region
- Melissa Thompson, Presiding Member of Far North Region
- Candace Champion, Presiding Member Flinders and Upper North Region
- Robert Singleton, Presiding Member Flinders and Upper North Region
- Lorraine Haseldine, Presiding Member West and West Region
- Kaylene O’Loughlin, Presiding Member Yorke and Mid North Region
- David Reynolds, Chief Executive, Department Housing and Urban Development
- Jackie Bray, Chief Executive, Department for Child Protection
- Judith Formston, Deputy Chief Executive, Department for Health and Wellbeing
- Julie-Anne Burgess, Chief Executive, SA Housing Trust
- Kim Little, Chief Executive Office, for Early Childhood Development
- Melissa Bradley, Executive Director, Preventive Health SA
- Rick Persse, Chief Executive, Department of the Premier and Cabinet
- Sandy Pitcher, Chief Executive, Department of Human Service
On 16 October 2025, members of the State Voice met with Chief Executives from the South Australian Government to discuss key matters relating to Education, Training, Economic Development, and State Development. The discussions focused on how these areas connect with the three priority focus areas for First Nations communities in South Australia; Health and Wellbeing, and Housing and Infrastructure.
The meeting was informed by regional insights gathered by Local First Nations Voices from communities across the State. This valuable input helped shape the discussions, offering grounded perspectives and practical solutions identified by communities themselves. It also provided important advice to the South Australian Government on how each Chief Executive’s portfolio affects and impacts First Nations peoples, and where opportunities for meaningful improvement exist.
Attendees
- Ms Danni Smith, Joint Presiding Member, Presiding Member of Murraylands, Riverland and South East Region
- Mr Leeroy Bilney, Joint Presiding Member, Presiding Member of West and West Coast Region
- Douglas Clinch, Presiding Member of Kumangka Warrarna Wangkanthi (Central) Region
- Melissa Thompson, Presiding Member of Far North Region
- Robert Singleton, Presiding Member Flinders and Upper North Region
- Lorraine Haseldine, Presiding Member West and West Region
- Kaylene O’Loughlin, Presiding Member Yorke and Mid North Region
- Adam Kilvert, Chief Executive, TAFE SA
- Ben Temperley, A/Chief Executive, Department for Education
- Caroline Mealor PSM, Chief Executive, Attorney-General’s Department
- Emma Terry, Chief Executive, SA Tourism Commission
- Kim Eldridge, Executive Director, Department for State Development
- Bec Curtain, Executive Director, Office for Early Childhood Development
- Rebecca Astley, A/Executive Director, Department of Treasury and Finance.
Meetings with Cabinet
In 2025 there were two meetings between the State Voice and the Cabinet. The meetings allowed for continued dialogue on the Voice's 2025 Focus Areas - conversations that started during the year's first Engagement Hearing and resolved with commitment to action through the final Cabinet meeting.
More information about the Cabinet Meetings can be found by selecting them below.
On 15 September 2025, members of the State Voice met with the Premier and Cabinet to discuss justice and policing matters affecting First Nations peoples in South Australia. These discussions were informed by regional perspectives gathered by Local First Nations Voices from communities across the State, which shaped a series of recommendations made by the State Voice for consideration by the South Australian Government.
The purpose of the Cabinet meeting was for the Voice, after making its recommendations and alongside the government’s proposed responses to said recommendations, to provide further advice so that both parties could agree on key commitments, priorities, and policy areas for progress.
The Voice’s recommendations offered grassroots feedback and community-driven solutions to address the life cycle of incarceration as it relates to First Nations peoples in South Australia. These were structured under the following focus areas:
- Prevention & Diversion
- Policing
- Courts
- Incarceration & Pre-release
- Post-release & Rehabilitation
- Drug & Alcohol
Through these conversations, the Voice provided the South Australian Government with valuable insights into how matters raised by communities, within each Minister’s portfolio, affect First Nations peoples, and how the sustainable solutions identified by communities, through the Voice’s recommendations, can drive meaningful change.
Attendees
- Mr Leeroy Bilney, Joint Presiding Member, Presiding Member of West and West Coast Region
- Douglas Clinch, Presiding Member of Kumangka Warrarna Wangkanthi (Central) Region
- Susan Dixon, Presiding Member of Kumangka Warrarna Wangkanthi (Central) Region
- Melissa Thompson, Presiding Member of Far North Region
- Robert Singleton, Presiding Member Flinders and Upper North Region
- Robin Wright, Presiding Member Murray Lands, Riverland and South East Region
- Kaylene O’Loughlin, Presiding Member Yorke and Mid North Region
- Hon. Peter Malinauskas MP, Premier of South Australia
- Hon. Susan Close MP, Deputy Premier
- Hon. Kyam Maher MLC
- Hon. Tom Koutsantonis MP
- Hon. Stephen Mullighan MP
- Hon. Zoe Bettison MP
- Hon. Chris Picton MP
- Hon. Katrine Hildyard MP
- Hon. Nat Cook MP
- Hon. Clare Scriven MLC
- Hon. Blair Boyer MP
- Hon. Joe Szakacs MP
- Hon. Nick Champion MP
- Hon. Emily Bourke MLC
A number of Departmental Chief Executives and Senior Leaders were also present for the meeting, along with government observers.
On 5 November 2025, the State Voice met with the Premier and Cabinet for their final meeting of the year. Together they discussed the three (3) fundamental and seven (7) operational priorities that the SA Voice recommended government adopt to address the inequities in health and wellbeing, housing and infrastructure, and justice and policing that are impacting First Nations people.
During the meeting the Premier and Minister’s Maher, Cook, Boyer and Pearce spoke about how they and their departments would be responding to the Voice's recommendations. State Voice Members represented the views of Local Voices and community members in giving the government feedback on their proposals, as they advocated for meaningful and timely reforms that benefit First Nations people in South Australia.
Members continued their push for Truth and Treaty, frameworks for partnerships between government and the Community Controlled sector, and evaluation and accountability. They are working with government to deliver on hubs for services and healing, improvements to housing maintenance and design, more and better bail accommodation, and cultural and accessible information and supports for those dealing with the justice system.
The Voice thanks the Premier, his Minister’s, and Departmental Chief Executives for working collaboratively with its members this year.
Attendees
- Ms Danni Smith, Joint Presiding Member, Presiding Member of Murraylands, Riverland and South East Region
- Mr Leeroy Bilney, Joint Presiding Member, Presiding Member of West and West Coast Region
- Douglas Clinch, Presiding Member of Kumangka Warrarna Wangkanthi (Central) Region
- Susan Dixon, Presiding Member of Kumangka Warrarna Wangkanthi (Central) Region
- Melissa Thompson, Presiding Member of Far North Region
- Robin Wright, Presiding Member Murray Lands, Riverland and South East Region
- Lorraine Haselding, Presiding Member, West and West Coast Region
- Kaylene O’Loughlin, Presiding Member Yorke and Mid North Region
- Hon. Peter Malinauskas MP, Premier of South Australia
- Hon. Kyam Maher MLC, Deputy Premier
- Hon. Tom Koutsantonis MP
- Hon. Zoe Bettison MP
- Hon. Chris Picton MP
- Hon. Katrine Hildyard MP
- Hon. Nat Cook MP
- Hon. Clare Scriven MLC
- Hon. Blair Boyer MP
- Hon. Andrea Michaels MP
- Hon. Emily Bourke MLC
- Hon. Rhiannon Pearce MP
- Hon. Lucy Hood MP
A number of Departmental Chief Executives and Senior Leaders were also present for the meeting, along with government observers.
