Sussan Ley claims Voice could end Anzac Day

The senior Liberal and fierce Voice critic says a Voice to Parliament could spell the end of national commemorations such as Anzac Day.

Senior Liberal frontbencher Sussan Ley has doubled down on her view that a Voice to Parliament could spell the end of Anzac Day and Australia Day.

Speaking on Melbourne radio station 3AW on Friday morning, the deputy opposition leader, a staunch critic of the Voice, said ambiguity over the wording of its potential power left the door open for the body to act as a “casting vote” on all matters impacting Australians - including national days of commemoration.

Host Tony Jones hit back at Ley and said she was “scaremongering,” and added that the public “expect better.”

Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the Voice to Parliament could pose a threat to national days of commemoration such as Anzac Day and Australia Day. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The hitout between Ley and Jones on Melbourne’s airwaves continued the trend of deepening acrimony in the debate over the Voice to Parliament, with both sides accusing one another of dishonesty and opportunism.

Ley told listeners that Albanese had been “deliberately undefined” in the wording of the constitutional amendment, which will be put to voters in a referendum later this year.

“The Prime Minister can’t rule out that the Voice has a de facto veto role on, for example, national days of commemoration such as Anzac Day and Australia Day,” she said.

“This idea now that it (the Voice) is effectively a casting vote on matters affecting every Australian is really concerning.

“The Voice might take a view about Anzac Day, it might take a view about Australia Day, it might take a view about everything.”

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton confirmed the Liberal Party front bench would advocate for a No vote. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

When Jones accused her of scaremongering, Ley said: “I respectfully don’t agree Tony.”

“It’s alright to ask serious questions,” she said.

Earlier this week, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, who will spearhead a No vote, said Anthony Albanese should apologise for his “disgraceful” personal attacks on Liberal MP Julian Leeser, who quit the opposition front bench in order to campaign in favour of the Voice.

The Coalition confirmed last week that its policy would be to oppose the Voice, but would allow backbenchers a conscience vote.

When the announcement was made Noel Person, an indigenous leader and leading member of the Uluru statement, said Dutton was guilty of a “Judas betrayal of our country.”