Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price says she wants regional and remote communities empowered over Voice

A vocal opponent of the Voice to parliament has revealed why she believes the advisory body is not required.  

Indigenous Australians would be better served by the federal government empowering regional and remote communities within pre-existing bureaucracies, senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price says.

A referendum on whether an Indigenous Voice to parliament should be enshrined in the constitution will be held later this year.

The body was recommended by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders and community members through the Uluru Statement From the Heart following regional dialogues throughout the country.

But Senator Nampijinpa Price, a former deputy Alice Springs Mayor and one of the leaders of the ‘no’ campaign, said the body would not deal with issues on the ground.

“The fundamental principle about all of this is the fact that I don’t believe we need this in our constitution to actually do what it says,” the Northern Territory senator told ABC’s RN.

Outspoken ‘no’ campaigner and Senator Nampijinpa Price wants local communities better served. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“I mean, if the government is so sure that their model is going to work, then they can legislate it right now if they wanted to.

“What’s happening is we’re having this debate, which is taking away from the issues that are actually going on the ground right now. The issues going on the ground aren’t being effectively dealt with because focus is on representation in Canberra.”

She took aim at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for visiting the Red Centre for “three hours,” insisting his “cash splash” had done “nothing” to get the kids off the street during night time.

Last week, the Liberals announced its formal opposition to the proposal with leader Peter Dutton planning to actively campaign against the referendum. The Nationals revealed it would not support the Voice last year.

The opposition instead proposed for a symbolic recognition for Indigenous Australians in the constitution and a legislated Voice, claiming the government’s model would not deliver results.

Senator Nampijinpa Price said she wanted voices to be empowered through existing structures.

“This is my suggestion … being able to strengthen those voices and better resource those communities in that way speaks directly to those communities. That understands what’s going on the ground,” she added.

Mr Chugg-Palmer was asked about how the Young Liberals have responded to their senior party's decision to campaign for a no vote. Photo: ABC

Senator Fatima Payman said she believes that Australia will choose to vote yes to a Voice to parliament at the referendum. Photo: ABC

It comes as the leader of the Young Liberals told ABC’s Q&A he is “open” to Labor’s proposal.

President Dimitry Chugg-Palmer made the comments when asked whether the junior organisation would stray from the Coalition’s stance on voting no to the Voice.

Mr Chugg-Palmer said that his organisation did not have a formal position however there were many inside of it who wanted to vote yes.

“I can say that my view is that I’m open to voting yes, but I think I, along with many other Australians, just want to get a few more answers and a bit more clarity on what exactly it is that we’re voting on,” he said on the program.

The pair clashed on the program. Photo: ABC

Mr Chugg-Palmer said that he “gets to make up his own mind” about how to vote in the upcoming referendum.

He also said that the party should take up the chance to engage with the committee process into the Voice legislation, something that was objected to by Labor Senator for WA Fatima Payman.

“The Opposition leader had almost eight chances and eight opportunities to engage in the consultation process … it just seems like Mr Dutton used excuse after excuse to just keep campaigning for no,” she said.

Senator Payman said that despite the lack of bipartisanship, she believed that Australia would overwhelmingly vote yes at the upcoming referendum.

“I have faith in the Australian people. I have faith in grassroots level organisations. I have faith in our community groups, our faith groups that we can do this without the coalition support,” she said.

“We have given you guys, and your coalition party, multiple opportunities to come to the table to discuss the question posed to the Australian people and we‘re not afraid to continue campaigning for the yes vote and we have complete faith in the Australian population.”