Queensland LNP leader David Crisafulli to vote No on Indigenous voice to parliament
David Crisafulli says he is concerned about ‘risks’ of changing the constitution as he enters the national debate for the first time.
Queensland’s Liberal National Party leader David Crisafulli has revealed he will vote No in the Indigenous voice to parliament referendum later this year.
Mr Crisafulli, who had for months refused to reveal his position, on Wednesday said he planned to vote No but would not actively campaign against the voice.
“This is the first time I have waded into an issue at another level of government … I have done so because I am mindful that I am in a leadership position and it is important I put my views across,” he said.
Mr Crisafulli said he was concerned about “risks” of enshrining the voice in the constitution, including the potential it could undermine parliament’s power.
“I don’t feel a voice that is legislated wouldn’t be able to achieve exactly the same thing as one that’s enshrined in the constitution, (but) without that level of risk,” he said.
“I think every Australian wants to know that their parliament, people who are elected, ultimately can be held accountable and if there’s a body that could override that, then that is a big risk.”
Mr Crisafulli said he “firmly believed” that a voice created through legislation could provide advice to all three levels of government.
“My concern is if it is embedded in the constitution, what is the risk that comes with that?” he said.
“My MPs will be able to vote the way they wish and they can choose to campaign if they wish one side or another.”
Of the 34 Queensland LNP MPs, only Gold Coast-based Sam O’Connor has definitively said he’s voting Yes. Southport MP Rob Molhoek, told The Australian last month he was “leaning towards Yes, but I’m still wrestling with it”.
The highest-ranking Liberal in office, Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff, in April confirmed he would campaign “vigorously” for a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous voice to parliament.
Mr Crisafulli has been under growing pressure from the party’s grassroot members after he voted to support Labor’s Indigenous treaty laws in state parliament earlier this month.
He insisted on Wednesday that the voice and treaties were “vastly different issues”.
The Palaszczuk government has confirmed treaty deals could cost hundreds of millions of dollars apiece and factor in the number of Indigenous people killed in historic local massacres.
Senior LNP figures and federal politicians were outraged after all 34 LNP MPs voted to pass the legislation.
Mr Crisafulli has since said the party would not “advocate” for compensation to be paid as part of treaty deals.
Branches across the state have been passing motions calling on Mr Crisafulli to rescind support for treaty laws and repeal them if the LNP wins the October 2024 state election.
Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Leeanne Enoch said the LNP would play no constructive role in the “history-making opportunity” the voice presented.
“This opposition is driven not by principle, but by fear of his backbench and fear of the far right of the LNP party machine,” she said.
“It’s now only a matter of time before David Crisafulli abandons his support for the path to treaty.”
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