‘Not convinced’: Opposition leader to vote ‘no’ in Voice referendum

Opposition leader David Crisafulli’s decision to not support the Voice to Parliament is “beyond disappointing”, the state government says. VOTE IN THE POLL

Opposition leader David Crisafulli’s decision to not support the Voice to Parliament is “beyond disappointing”, the state government says.

Following months of speculation about his position, Mr Crisafulli on Wednesday morning confirmed he would be voting no, just hours after the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum Bill passed the Lower House in Canberra.

It also followed Path to Treaty legislation passing unopposed in State Parliamant earlier this month.

Mr Crisafulli said he would not be campaigning on the Voice issue, but was concerned about a “level of risk” of enshrining it in the Constitution.

“I have made up my mind – I won’t be voting for a Voice to be enshrined in the Constitution,” he said.

“I said I would make my position clear when I had come to that decision.

“I won’t be campaigning on this – my focus is on Queensland.”

Mr Crisafulli’s position echoes that of federal LNP leader Peter Dutton, who has said he would also vote no in the referendum.

Queensland opposition leader David Crisafulli. Picture: Brendan Radke

But is at odds with that of Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, currently the most senior LNP politician on the Australian mainland.

Mr Crisafulli said there were two reasons he would not support the Voice.

“Having looked at the committee report, having looked at the Prime Minister’s contribution in Adelaide, I’m just not convinced that is the best mechanism to deliver the changes needed,” he said.

“I’m not convinced that the body in the way that it will be enshrined in the constitution, that there’s not a level of risk about its powers.

“I know there are varying views and I respect views across the board but I’m just not convinced that is the case.

“I don’t feel that a Voice that is legislated wouldn’t be able to achieve exactly the same thing as one that is enshrined in the constitution without that level of risk.”

Mr Crisafulli said he hoped the debate would be done with respect and decency.

The bill would now pass to the Senate, with a date for the referendum to be set for later this year.

The first Aboriginal woman to be elected to Queensland Parliament slammed Mr Crisafulli’s position as a “failure of leadership”.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister and Treaty Minister Leeanne Enoch said the passing of the legislation in Canberra “gives us a chance to create history and address the injustices faced by First Nations people”.

“We now know that the Queensland LNP will play no constructive role in this history-making opportunity,” she said.

“David Crisafulli’s rejection of The Voice is yet another failure of leadership.

“This opposition is driven not by principle, but by fear of his backbench and fear of the far right of the LNP party machine.

“It’s now only a matter of time before David Crisafulli abandons his support for the Path to Treaty.”

And Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said Mr Crisafulli’s revelation during Reconciliation Week was “beyond disappointing”, given he had taken months to reveal his position on the referendum.

“To say he just wants to focus on better health outcomes completely undermines the significance of this point in time in our history,” she told reporters on Wednesday afternoon.

“How do you get better health outcomes for First Nations Queenslanders if you don’t invite them to sit at the table with you (and) to listen to them about how we can get better outcomes?

“As far as I’m aware, the LNP doesn’t have a policy on First Nations Health, they don’t have a policy about funding community-controlled First Nations health organisations and, as far as I’m aware, they’ve never even met with any of them.”

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman. Picture: Liam Kidston

Ms Fentiman rubbished the Opposition Leader’s claim that he would prefer attention and resources were targeted towards improving lives for First Nations people by creating and adhering to key performance indicators.

“How do you think you get those outcomes in First Nations communities if you’re not listening to the voices of First Nations Queenslanders?” the Health Minister said.

“The voice is an invitation for First Nations communities to discuss with the government the issues that affect them – like housing, like healthcare – why wouldn’t you invite them to have a seat at the table about those significant decisions that we make to get those better outcomes?”