Rita Panahi: Peter Dutton cannot afford to falter on so-called Indigenous voice to parliament

The Coalition must oppose a so-called Indigenous voice to parliament no matter how tempting it is to blindly follow Labor’s agenda.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is just the man to realign and reinvigorate the confused Liberal brand.

The former defence minister said all the right things after being elected unopposed on Monday. He vowed to fight for the “forgotten Australians in the suburbs”, saying he would be “true to our values” and not allow the party to become “Labor light”.

And Dutton was unequivocal about the threat China poses, labelling the superpower under President Xi “the biggest issue our country will face in our lifetimes”.

All music to the ears of likely Coalition voters frustrated by years of weak-willed leaders but there is one critical policy area where Dutton cannot afford to falter; the so-called Indigenous voice to parliament.

It’s one thing to have recognition of Australia’s Indigenous heritage in the constitution but quite another to effectively create a third chamber of parliament based purely on race. It would be deeply divisive and exclusionary and become another platform for inner-city activists, doing little to address genuine Indigenous disadvantage.

New Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton must take a stand against racially based policies. Picture: Tracey Nearmy

What’s more it would embed toxic identity politics and race obsessions into the constitution and usurp the fundamental democratic principle of “one person, one vote”. Those who identify as Indigenous will receive an extra vote in what will be one of many racially based policies that Labor plans to implement including Indigenous foreign policy and appointing an Indigenous ambassador.

It’s prioritising precisely what matters least; a person’s ethnicity, something they have zero control over.

Under the Labor plan someone who has lived a privileged life and has never experienced any disadvantage or racism will have an additional vote as long as they have some, no matter how minute, Indigenous ancestry, while a non-Indigenous person whether they be black, brown or white who has lived long term in an Indigenous community, who has Indigenous children and grandchildren would be denied a vote or the opportunity to represent their community.

Anthony Albanese said on election night he wants to hold a referendum to enshrine “The Voice”. Picture: Getty Images)

The very first pledge that Anthony Albanese made during his victory speech on election night was to hold a referendum to enshrine “The Voice”.

The Dutton-led Coalition must oppose the voice no matter how tempting it is to blindly follow Labor’s agenda and thereby avoid an almighty media and activist backlash.

If the Coalition mount a fact-based and ethical campaign they will win the debate and the referendum will fail. This is a deal-breaker for many Coalition voters.

The Liberals either take a principled stand or they become a weak version of Labor, shadowing their policy positions no matter how irrational, racist and destructive.