Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher told InDaily that plans to establish a state-based voice had “necessitated a review” of the South Australian Commissioner for Aboriginal Engagement position.

He said the government was “currently considering its options”, but did not confirm whether the current commissioner – Dr Roger Thomas – would stay in office beyond this month.

Thomas, a Kokatha and Mirning man, was appointed as South Australia’s first Treaty Commissioner under the Weatherill Government in 2017.

The Marshall Government reappointed him Aboriginal Engagement Commissioner for a four-year term in 2018 after scrapping the treaty process.

Maher extended Thomas’ contract for a further six months in July this year.

Thomas is the primary point of contact between the state’s Aboriginal communities and the government, and reports directly to Maher in his role as Aboriginal Affairs Minister.

He is tasked with promoting Aboriginal inclusion through the non-Aboriginal community and advising the government on barriers restricting Aboriginal people’s access to services.

The government most recently tasked Thomas with consulting Aboriginal people across the state about a plan to erect monuments and statues of First Nations leaders.

His six-month consultation resulted in over 100 candidates being nominated for commemoration.

Maher said the government was currently considering Thomas’ recommendations.

In response to questions from InDaily yesterday, Thomas said a decision to appoint an Aboriginal Engagement Commissioner “comes under the portfolio of the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs”.

He did not say whether he would finish in the role at the end of this month.

It comes after the government last month released a draft First Nations Voice Bill for public consultation.

The bill proposes to establish a group of First Nations people from across the state to advise and address parliament.

It would also see elected “Local First Nations Voices” established in regions around the state.

The number of members and regions is yet to be determined but each Local First Nations Voice would have an equal number of male and female members and would have its election process managed by the Electoral Commission of South Australia.

The state voice would be able to address parliament on legislation of interest to Aboriginal people, make an annual address to parliament, provide reports to parliament on matters of interest and engage ministers and chief executives about department budgets and priorities in annual meetings.

South Australia would not need to amend its constitution or hold a referendum to establish a state voice to parliament.

Consultation on the draft bill closes next month.