David Littleproud takes aim at Linda Burney over Voice to Parliament speech

A fresh fight has emerged after a senior minister claimed the No campaign was trying to import Trump-style politics to the Voice to Parliament debate.

David Littleproud has slammed a “disappointing” speech by Linda Burney in which she accused Peter Dutton of being a “bully boy” and claimed the No campaign was using Trump-style politics.

In a round of media interviews on Thursday morning, the Nationals leader criticised the Indigenous Australians minister for using the National Press Club address to call people names.

“I think as political leaders, we’ve got a responsibility to set the tone. And it’s important that the Minister had an opportunity to in fact, put any mistrusts to bed, but in fact couldn’t,” he told the ABC.

“She couldn’t answer the questions around the details, the mechanics of the Voice about how this would actually shift the dial, particularly for those in regional and remote areas.”

Ms Burney’s address to reporters on Wednesday took aim at Mr Dutton for criticising big businesses backing the Voice, opening up a fresh stoush over the referendum, expected to be called for October.

Mr Littleproud criticised Linda Burney for using her NPC to name call. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

She also urged voters to not fall for the No campaign attempts to “get their way with using Trump-style politics in Australia” and signalled out Fair Australia - the group led by Nationals senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

Senator Price labelled Ms Burney’s remarks an “arrogant attack”.

The Nationals declared its opposition to the referendum, which would enshrine the Voice to Parliament in the Constitution, last year.

Mr Littleproud said his party would back Indigenous recognition in the nation’s founding document. He called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese halt the referendum from going forward.

“I just implore the Prime Minister to pause, to bring this nation with him and to actually admit that it's now time to just make this about Constitutional recognition, unite our country, and then get on with closing the gap with practical measures of a better bureaucracy, not a bigger one,” he said.

Ms Burney took aim at the No camp for importing Trump style politics. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Speaking with the ABC, Assistant Minister Malarndirri McCarthy put the heat back on the Nationals and accused the party of not doing enough to inform themselves on how the Voice would work.

“I remind David Littleproud that he was the leader who took the Nationals away … and didn't step in to get himself informed by the referendum working group,” she said.

“And I do lament the fact that the Nationals never got themselves informed from the outset. So I would say to David Littleproud, you know, talk to Linda Burney. Work with those politicians who you know very clearly, work with Julian Leeser.”

Originally published as David Littleproud takes aim at Linda Burney over Voice to Parliament speech