Nationals party formally oppose Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum

The Albanese government’s proposed referendum on an Aboriginal “voice to parliament” will not receive the support of the Nationals party.

The Nationals will formally oppose the Albanese government’s proposed referendum on an Aboriginal “voice to parliament”, calling it a “divisive” idea based on “emotional blackmail.”

“The National Party has made a position that we will not support Voice to Parliament, we believe in empowering local Indigenous communities, giving them the power at a local level, not creating another layer of bureaucracy here,” said Nationals leader David Littleproud.

Mr Littleproud was joined by the entire Nationals party room with the exception of Darren Chester, who is in New York.

Northern Territory senator Jacinta Price said the party decided to oppose the voice after long consultations with constituents including Indigenous Australians she said had far greater priorities.

Leader of the National Party David Littleproud has declared the party will not support the referendum. Picture: Dan Peled

“I’ve spoken to people throughout communities in the Northern Territory, those whose first language is not English, who don’t understand what this voice proposal is about, who are living their day to day lives worrying about how they’re not going to encounter violence in their lives, worrying about how they’re going to manage their affairs without humbug from their relatives who are dealing with alcohol and substance abuse, worrying about ensuring that their kids are actually going to get to school because now that remote community is overcome with alcohol fuelled violence,” she said.

“We are here to serve Australian citizens of all backgrounds. And it’s not right to divide us along the lines of race, especially within our Australian founding document,” she said.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price declared the party had consulted with Indigenous Australians before deciding. Picture: Gary Ramage

Ms Price also attacked the government’s Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney for being out of touch.

“Minister Burney might be able to take a private jet out into a remote community, dripping with Gucci, and tell people in the dirt what’s good for them. But they are in the dark, and they have been in the dark.”

“What we need now is practical measures, not an idea that lacks complete and utter detail that’s based on emotional blackmail,” she said.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth and Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney during Question Time. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The announcement puts further pressure on the Liberal party to formally declare a position on The Voice which would enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to give advice to the parliament on policies that affect their lives.

Over the weekend, Queensland’s Liberal National Party reportedly passed a resolution by an overwhelming majority urging the federal party to oppose the motion.

One major issue for the party is whether MPs will be bound to a “no” vote or allowed to take a conscience position.

While a majority of Liberal MPs are understood to be against the voice, dissenting voices including shadow attorney-general Julian Leeser have made comments suggesting they might support the voice in principle provided the government can provide more detail.

NSW senator Andrew Bragg has also called on the party to allow MPs a conscience vote.