Premier Chris Minns refuses to rule out NSW Voice to Parliament

An Indigenous Voice to NSW Parliament is still a possibility after the Minns government refused to rule out legislating a state-based advisory body.

An Indigenous Voice to NSW Parliament is still on the cards after the Minns government refused to rule out legislating a state-based advisory body.

Labor MPs voted down a motion in Parliament’s Upper House late Wednesday night calling on the government to “respect the decision of New South Wales voters who resoundingly rejected the Voice to Parliament” and “rule out legislating a Voice to the NSW Parliament”.

Labor, the Greens, and progressive cross benchers used their numbers in the house to defeat the motion 19 votes to 13.

That is despite Upper House leader Penny Sharpe on Wednesday telling parliament that a state-based Voice is “not our current policy”.

Australians voted against a Voice to Parliament in last week’s referendum. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

In the debate on the motion, moved by One Nation MP Tania Mihailuk, Senior Labor Minister John Graham said the outcome of Saturday’s referendum “does not directly affect the decision by the New South Wales Government to start a conversation about treaty”.

“We absolutely respect the decision of the Australian people to not change Australia’s Constitution,” he said.

“People did not reject reconciliation or working in partnership with Aboriginal communities to achieve better outcomes for Indigenous people and for all taxpayers.”

He said the government’s focus was on Closing the Gap “while it deals with other key priorities” like the cost of living.

One Nation MP Tania Mihailuk. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

Liberal Treasury spokesman Damien Tudehope. Picture: John Appleyard

The Coalition voted in favour of the motion to rule out a NSW voice.

“Any proposal for such a significant change to how the Parliament operates in New South Wales should only be considered for legislation if it has been previously put to the people at a general election,” Liberal Treasury spokesman Damien Tudehope said.

Labor MP Anthony D’Adam claimed that Saturday’s emphatic rejection of constitutional change was a result of voters casting their ballots “in a moment of doubt”.

“I am not convinced that a lot of people were actually rejecting the Voice. I am convinced that a lot of people went into the polling booth not knowing what the Voice was about and, in a moment of doubt, were prepared to cast a ballot against something they did not understand,” he said.

The government’s Upper House Leader Penny Sharpe said a state Voice is not Labor’s “current policy”. Picture: NCA Newswire

Ms Mihailuk said it was “disappointing but not surprising” that Labor is still considering a NSW Voice.

“It is disappointing but not surprising that NSW Labor will work with The Greens to oppose what the people of NSW want. They sent a very strong message—they said no to the Voice to Parliament,” she said.

The Minns government pledged before the election to spend $5 million on a year-long consultation process on an indigenous Treaty. That is expected to get underway next year.

Premier Chris Minns dismissed the vote on Thursday.

“I wouldn’t read too much into a motion moved in the Upper House as to the government’s intentions,” he said.

“Our position is we got to engage as First Nations people,” he said.

“We’ve got a mandate in place to begin the process of treaty.”

He said he would not “speculate on the future of reconciliation” when asked if his election mandate included pursuing a state Voice.

“Whatever changes we make, will bring the people of New South Wales along with us,” he said.

He would not say whether he would take any proposals for a state Voice or a NSW Treaty to an election.

NO NSW-BASED VOICE OR TREATY AS BOTH PARTIES BACK OFF

Liberal Leader Mark Speakman has ruled out supporting a Voice to NSW parliament and a treaty with Indigenous Australians, calling instead for the “practical and urgent delivery” of Closing the Gap initiatives to overcome disadvantage.

The Labor government’s Upper House leader Penny Sharpe has also walked back from a state-based Voice, telling parliament it is “not our current policy”.

Liberal sources told The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday it would be foolish for the Coalition not to listen to the will of 60 per cent of voters who voted “no”.

While he supported the proposal for a federal Voice, Mr Speakman now appears to have heeded voters’ emphatic rejection of the idea.

The sources told The Telegraph the referendum result was an “objective test” for the Coalition, which must “read the mood of the electorate”.

Mark Speakman, who supported the referendum, does not support a Voice to NSW parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire

“It’s time to leave it and walk away,” one said.

Another said the result showed politics was “demonstrably shifting to the centre right rather than the left”.

All states delivered “no” results in the referendum. Picture: Getty

Right faction Liberals said the party should seek to take a more conservative approach on various issues including nuclear energy, cost of living and gay conversion practices.

A review into former Premier Dominic Perrottet’s election loss, briefed to Liberals on Tuesday, was silent on whether the pursuit of various progressive policies — such as green energy — cost the party votes with traditional Coalition voters.

However, it did find Mr Perrottet took “too many policies” to the election and lacked “a consistent narrative through the campaign,” according to a source.

Liberals said Mr Speakman should take heed of the result. Picture: Getty

On the issue of a state-based Treaty, Mr Speakman told the Telegraph that while the Minns government has a “mandate” to start early consultations, a Treaty is not something he would pursue.

“The opposition’s focus is instead on the practical and urgent delivery of policies and programs in Closing the Gap partnerships that overcome Indigenous disadvantage,” he said.

He said a Voice to NSW Parliament “is not a policy position of the NSW opposition”.

Premier Chris Minns has not ruled out a Voice to state parliament, and has committed $5 million for a year-long listening tour regarding a Treaty.

He has insisted that the policy he takes to the next election will be guided by the consultation process.

Ms Sharpe told parliament on Wednesday the government “accepts the will of the people” who overwhelmingly voted against a Voice.

“In relation to the Voice that’s not our current policy but we expect that we’ll be having a lot of reflection time about what next,” she said.

She said the Treaty process should not be “rushed,” and could take longer than six years.

“This is not something that the government wishes to impose. This is something that we actually wish to work very closely with Aboriginal people on,” she said.

Originally published as Premier Chris Minns refuses to rule out NSW Voice to Parliament