The Liberal Party will oppose the federal government’s proposed model for a national Indigenous Voice to parliament in this year’s referendum, but will support constitutional recognition for First Nations peoples.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton formally announced the position following a two-hour party room meeting in Canberra, saying his party’s stance will improve outcomes for Indigenous communities.
“The Liberal Party resolved today to say yes to constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians, yes to a local and regional body so we can get practical outcomes for Indigenous people on the ground,” he said.
“But there was a resounding no to the prime minister’s Canberra Voice.”
Rather than supporting the government’s proposed model of a constitutionally enshrined Voice, the Liberals will instead argue for a legislated approach for a local and regional body.
The Uluru Statement from the Heart, the 2017 petition that called for the Voice to give First Nations peoples better representation, explicitly calls for the body to be “enshrined in the Constitution”, rather than legislated.
However, in line with party policy, the Liberal position is not binding on backbenchers, who will be able to take their own stance.
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Dutton said the Liberals will support the legislation for the referendum before the parliament, but criticised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for changing the wording of the question to be asked of Australians, claiming the prime minister had gone against the advice of the attorney-general and solicitor-general.
Albanese had previously called on Dutton and the opposition to support the yes vote for the referendum, which is likely to be held between October and December.
The Nationals, the Liberals’ junior Coalition partner, announced last year they will be opposing the Voice.
Only eight of Australia’s 44 referendums have passed, and none have been successful without bipartisan support.
The last one was held in 1999, when the nation voted against becoming a republic.
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