South Australia’s Voice of Parliament has seen a rise in resignations, including that of its leader, amid accusations its members are being “gagged” from speaking out.
Narungga, Kaurna and Ngarrindjeri woman Tahlia Wanganeen was elected to Central Adelaide Voice in March and appointed State Voice president in June.
However, he left both advisory bodies just a few months later, in September.
Ms Wanganeen claimed the organisation’s current model was “unsustainable” as members have “day jobs”, she said. ABC News.
She was one of four elected members who have already resigned from the Voice; the others were Cheryl Axelby, a member of Central Voice, Darryle Barnes, a member of South East Voice, and Joy Makepeace, a member of Yorke and Mid North Voice.
Voice secretariat director Andrea Mason also resigned to move to the Northern Territory, apparently for family reasons.
Ms Wanganeen’s comments followed a clash between South Africa’s Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher and independent MP Frank Pangallo in Parliament on Thursday.
The pair were at odds after Uncle Charles Jackson, an elected Voice member and SA Senior Australian of the Year, revealed he was considering leaving the force.
South Africa’s Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher (pictured) addressed concerns in parliament on Thursday after four SA Voice members resigned.
The Adnyamathanha elder stated that being part of the Voice put “barriers” on me that do not “give me any freedom to be able to say what I want to say to represent my people in region three.”
“I’m thinking about whether I would still be a member of The Voice,” he said.
‘I just thought…what is the purpose of being a voice for my people?’
Pangallo accused the Voice of muzzling Uncle Charles and said he was “deeply concerned” by the resignation of four other Voice members.
‘Why are members of the State Voice prevented from speaking to the media about issues that affect their people?’ -Mr. Pangallo asked Mr. Maher.
Maher stated that he was not aware of any attempt to silence Voice members.
“Having known Uncle Charlie for many, many years, I don’t think any such attempt would be successful,” he said.
“I believe that Uncle Charlie has been… and will continue to be a strong defender of his people.”
Two Voice vacancies will be filled through supplementary elections next year, while the other two will be filled by those next in line to fill the seats in the March elections.
Responding to the Voice’s broader concerns, Mr. Maher said: “I know there were a variety of reasons for people who quit, including, I think, moving from state to state to taking on new jobs that don’t allow flexibility for do that and for other personal reasons.
“That’s not necessarily my place, getting into people’s personal details.”
A recruitment process is underway to find replacements for members.
Two vacancies will be filled through supplementary elections next year, while the other two will be filled by those next in line to fill the seats in the March elections.
However, Pangallo believes the only way to avoid future resignations is to address the concerns of the four former Voice members.
“In the interests of transparency and accountability, the Minister has the responsibility to reveal the details of why each member has resigned,” he said.
‘My concern is that all of these people were nominated just a few months ago to be members of the historic Voice, but suddenly changed their minds, for whatever reason, and disconnected.
‘It’s not a good sight and raises a number of questions. Although it is only in its infancy, serious cracks are appearing in State Voice. It seems that we still have no Voice that can be heard.
Prominent Voice member Uncle Charles (pictured) said he is thinking about leaving the force because “barriers have been put up for me” that don’t “give me any freedom to be able to say what I want to say to represent my town in region three.”
Uncle Charles has also expressed concern about potentially biased members of The Voice holding jobs in government agencies.
‘How can they… speak against any government policy when the government actually pays their salaries?’ said.
Maher addressed the complaint in parliament by referencing the training Voice members receive on how to deal with conflicts of interest.
“I don’t agree that having a career or job in the state or federal public sector… should stop you from representing your community and being part of our Voice in South Australia,” he said.
SA Voice was previously expected to make its first speech to parliament this year.