Nationals split over ‘No’ vote on the Indigenous voice to parliament

The Nationals’ push to oppose an Indigenous voice to parliament has ­inflamed internal divisions, with one shadow minister and the West Australian division vowing to back a referendum.

Indigenous leader Noel Pearson (left) and Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

The Nationals’ push to oppose a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous voice to parliament has ­inflamed internal divisions, with one shadow minister and the party’s West Australian division vowing to back Anthony Albanese’s referendum regardless.

Nationals frontbencher ­Andrew Gee confirmed he did not agree with his leaders’ stance to bind the party in opposition to the voice, which became the party’s formal position while he was ­absent from the partyroom.

While the WA Nationals ­declared that they would continue to back the voice, the Victorian ­Nationals – fresh from a successful state election performance – said they would not immediately follow the federal party on spearheading a No campaign.

The divisions in the Nationals come after Cape York leader Noel Pearson ripped into the party and Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price over the voice policy, with the Walpriri-Celtic senator later defending herself against “bullies”.

Mr Pearson, founder of Cape York Partnerships, excoriated Nationals leader David Littleproud on Tuesday for what he described as his total capitulation to the Country Liberal Party senator.

The Cape York leader – and co-architect of the Uluru Statement from the Heart – said the Nationals’ newly declared opposition to the voice was at odds with the party’s respectful engagement on the voice concept in the past.

He said Senator Price was being used by right-wing people who had been searching for an Indigenous person to articulate their views since before she ­entered parliament this year.

“She is caught in a vortex that reminds me of Pauline Hanson 26 years ago … it’s a celebrity vortex, it’s very compelling, it gets her out in front of people and it gets a lot of cheers but it’s also a redneck celebrity vortex and ultimately it’s a tragic redneck celebrity vortex that she’s caught up in,” Mr Pearson told ABC Radio National.

Noel Pearson claims the National Party’s decision to oppose the reform was driven by Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

“(And) it involves right-wing people, particularly the Sydney and Melbourne-based right-wing think tanks. They’re the string-pullers, the ones who have lined up behind Jacinta … their strategy was to find a black fella to punch down on other black fellas.”

Senator Price responded to Mr Pearson by saying it did not take long for nasty to rear its ugly head. She said she did not care for the absolute noise of bullies.

“I am no stranger to attacks from angry men who claim to speak on behalf of Aboriginal Australia,” she said in a statement.

“It’s not hard to see why as an Aboriginal woman I have reservations about enshrining an idea that lacks detail into our parliament that has the potential to empower bullies like those I have encountered over the years.”

WA Nationals leader Mia ­Davies on Tuesday announced the state party’s continued support for a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous voice, while the party’s former WA leader, Brendon Grylls – who governed in an alliance with the Liberals from 2008 to 2017 – said the voice was an important reform.

“The WA Nationals have, for at least a decade, been more forward leaning on Aboriginal policy and outcomes than the federal party, and are likely to have more impact at a referendum in any event,” Mr Grylls said.

A Victorian Nationals spokesman said the state division wanted more detail on the voice before coming to a formal position.

The Liberals’ partyroom did not take a step closer to forming a position on the voice on Tuesday. While some Liberal MPs continue to advocate for the voice, concern remains that Labor has not provided enough detail about how it would function.

The Australian has been told no Liberals stood up to speak on the voice in the party room meeting and that the issue will be taken back to the Liberal and Coalition party rooms for a decision to be made “in due course”.

Liberals are divided on whether the party should come to a position that its frontbench is bound to, or whether all party members should be allowed to campaign freely in their electorates in line with their personal view.

While some Liberals said it would be “absurd” for the party not to come to a concrete decision on something as important as a constitutionally-enshrined voice, others like NSW senator Andrew Bragg have pointed to precedents such as the marriage equality postal survey and the 1999 republic referendum, in which Liberals were not bound to a firm party position.

Tasmanian Liberal MP Bridget Archer said she was “surprised” the Nationals had come out against the voice and that she ­remained “open-hearted and open-minded” about the issue.

“I was surprised that they have come out, so soon, and with a No position – and obviously it has caused some consternation among their own ranks as well,” she said on the ABC.

The Prime Minister played down the impact the Nationals’ opposition might pose to the ­success of a referendum.

“It is time we recognise First Nations people in our Constitution and I am confident that this very gracious offer of Indigenous Australians will be accepted by the Australian people,” Mr Albanese said. “We’ll take the opportunity to recognise First Nations people in the Constitution and ensure they are consulted on matters that ­affect them.”

Other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders blasted the Nationals on Tuesday for taking a position that was “morally wrong” and out of touch with Australians.

The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria described the Nationals’ opposition to the voice as morally wrong and a political misstep.

Geoff Scott, a senior member of the Uluru Dialogues, said there were good people in the Nationals who believed in the voice’s prevailing concept that politicians should listen to the people they make laws about.