CLP president Lawson Broad resigns, leaves party over Voice

Lawson Broad has resigned from his position and given up his CLP membership after the party passed a resolution last month to oppose the Voice.

CLP president Lawson Broad has quit over his party’s decision to oppose an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.

Mr Broad told Sky News he had resigned from his position and given up his CLP membership after the party passed a resolution last month to oppose the Voice.

“I was recently on a leave-of-absence due to personal and work commitments and during that period the party resolved to take several formal policy positions to which I am personally strongly opposed,” he said.

“Central to these are its position on the Voice to the Parliament and Treaty and even so far as committing to oppose and repeal any laws that create a self-governing Aboriginal entity within the Northern Territory.

Lawson Broad has resigned from his position as CLP president and given up his membership to the party.

“My personal view is that these positions are offensive to a large number of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory and the population more generally.

“They seek to undermine decades of successive and evolving efforts on both sides of politics to empower Aboriginal people and communities through recognition of language, culture, and law.

“By their nature, they have the potential to further entrench Aboriginal disadvantage and they create opportunity to be interpreted as racist.”

CLP Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro has not ruled out supporting the proposal for a Voice to Parliament, but has asked for more detail. Picture: Annabel Bowles

The CLP’s rank-and-file members and its parliamentary wing have been split over the issue.

CLP Senator Jacinta Price is staunchly opposed to the Voice.

The CLP’s NT leader Lia Finocchiaro has not ruled out supporting the proposal for constitutional recognition but has asked for more detail.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is opposed to the Voice to Parliament. Photo: Martin Ollman/Getty Images

Mr Broad, who played a significant role in helping the CLP win seats in remote parts of the NT when the party last won government in 2012, said he couldn’t continue after the party resolved to oppose the Voice.

“Greater avenues for increased autonomy through various forms of self-determination and governance is something that has been fought for by Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory since well before self-government and the failure not just to recognise these efforts but to actively oppose them is of great disappointment,” he said.

“As a result, my position as party president is no longer tenable and I have resigned my role and membership.”

CLP general secretary Tony Schelling said the party had accepted Mr Broad’s resignation.

“In accordance with our constitution Sean Heenan will remain Acting President, as he has for the last four months while Lawson was away on personal leave,” he said.

“The President’s role is a voluntary position.

“We thank Lawson for his contribution while he was Party President.”

Matt Cunningham is the Sky News Northern Australia Correspondent

Follow @mattcunningham