VICTORIAN Nationals leader Peter Walsh has backed his federal Nationals counterparts’ stance on the proposed Indigenous voice in federal parliament, saying MPs are “almost compelled to say no”.
Speaking to ABC’s RN Breakfast, the opposition spokesman for aboriginal affairs said he had “some support” for the federal Nationals’ scepticism that the voice to parliament will lead to closing the gap for indigenous Australians.
“How can you support something when you don’t know the detail?” Mr Walsh said.
“Until there is detail how, you’re almost compelled to say no, because you don’t know what is there to try and support.”
Nationals leader David Littleproud said the party opposed constitutionally enshrining the voice to parliament on Monday as it would create “another layer of bureaucracy”.
But the Nationals’ announcement has drawn the opposition from former indigenous affairs minister Ken Wyatt, who told RN Breakfast that he had presented a detailed plan about the voice proposal to cabinet twice while in government.
He said there were four pages which spelled out the approach, the scope of the voice in practice and the steps needed to get there.
“(It) doesn’t impinge on the sovereignty of the Australian Parliament,” Mr Wyatt said.
“What is obvious with the National Party is that they have not read the report and have not given an aboriginal voice to Parliament an opportunity to be aired, and to be listened to and to be implemented.”
Mallee MP Anne Webster has said the party’s “no” position could promote further discussion and draw the Labor government into providing more details about the voice proposal.
But other Nationals MPs have expressed opposition to the stance, such as MP for Calare in NSW, Andew Gee, who wrote on his Facebook page that he was “still a supporter” of a voice to parliament.
“The Australian Government does need to provide more detail on what is proposed and a number of our local indigenous groups want this detail as well because they want to make sure they have a voice within the voice,” Mr Gee wrote.
WA Nationals leader Mia Davies has also said her party would support the voice proposal.
During Question Time on Tuesday, Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney said a voice was the “best chance … ever” to address past injustices of the past and create change.
“A better future that will improve the lives of Indigenous Australians on the ground in practical ways, like health, education, and housing,” Ms Burney said.
“This isn’t about more bureaucracy. This is about making sure voices in remote and regional communities are heard.”
