CLP Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro reveals position on the Voice

The Country Liberal Party leader has revealed which way she will vote in the Voice to Parliament referendum after months of tiptoeing around the issue.

Territory Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro has revealed which way she will vote in the upcoming Voice referendum.

Ms Finocchiaro said on Tuesday she would vote against a Voice to Parliament, citing the lack of Territory representation as the driving reason behind her decision.

Speaking with Katie Woolf on Mix 104.9, the Country Liberal Party leader said she was “disappointed more information had not come to light”.

“I’ve made the personal decision I will be voting no,” she said.

“The pamphlet coming out this week was the final chance for Labor to express to the community what the Voice is about.

“We’ve been calling for more information for Territorians since late last year because we believe people should really understand what they’re voting for.

CLP leader Lia Finocchiaro has revealed she will vote no in the upcoming Voice referendum. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“I’m really disappointed more information hasn’t come to light and really disappointed with the lack of Territory representation which means we’re not going to get the best outcomes for Territorians.

“I’m really concerned that a Canberra-based body filled with people from other jurisdictions, I just can’t see how they will be able to drive better outcomes for Aboriginal Territorians.”

The CLP’s NT parliamentary wing has been at odds with its rank and file on the issue for months, with MLAs repeatedly calling for more information while remaining neutral.

However at the federal level, CLP senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is one of the leading No campaigners while the party base’s stance prompted former president Lawson Broad to resign in March.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price along with the CLP rank and file have officially opposed the Voice, however NT CLP MLAs have not revealed their position. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Ms Finocchiaro said while she believed in constitutional recognition, she said she did not want to leave the advisory body “to chance”.

“I don’t think it’s okay for federal Labor to have turned such an important issue into a political issue,” she said.

“I’m not going to let Territorians be sidelined by people in other jurisdictions, I will fight every day for Territory rights and I don’t see how having more bureaucracy is going to drive better outcomes.”

Her announcement follows an alleged confrontation between two CLP pollies, Braitling MLA Josh Burgoyne and Barkly MLA Steve Edgington last month.

Mr Burgoyne along with Katherine MLA Jo Hersey were reportedly pushed back after attempting to remove a Vote No corflute at a CLP tent at the Katherine Show

Mr Burgoyne and Mr Edgington were then heard in a heated exchange in which Mr Burgoyne was allegedly heard telling his colleague he was “all talk and no action”.

But Ms Finocchiaro denied the incident or other internal party tensions had prompted her decision.

Port Darwin MLA Paul Kirby said the Labor members would be voting yes in the referendum. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Port Darwin MLA Paul Kirby said he was “not surprised” to hear the Opposition Leader would be voting no.

“I would just encourage people, anytime you step into a debate … you don’t always know all of the answers when you step into that debate, (but) we know that it’s the right debate to have,” he said.

“We know as a Northern Territory government, it won’t change what we’re doing.

“We’re doing a range of work with Aboriginal communities about them having a say over their own future, that’s what the referendum will seek to improve.

“It’s important for us to acknowledge that and to step through that with Aboriginal people, so we’ll certainly be voting yes.”

Originally published as CLP Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro reveals position on the Voice