Grassroots at odds with Tony Abbott’s recognition stance

Tony Abbott will press ahead with support for the recognition of indigenous Australians despite motions from grassroots members.

Tony Abbott will press ahead with support for the recognition of indigenous Australians in the Constitution and is unlikely to revisit changes to Section 18C of the ­Racial Discrimination Act following motions from grassroots members.

The Liberal Federal Council at the weekend passed resolutions supporting “efforts to eliminate any references to race in the commonwealth Constitution’’, contradicting the Prime Minister’s push for indigenous recognition.

The West Australian branch, which moved the motion, also called on the federal government to remove the words “offend’’ and “insult’’ from Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.

The law prohibits statements that may insult or offend people based on race and were used to prosecute media commentator Andrew Bolt.

The government backed away from changes to Section 18C, arguing it would impede progress on other policy areas.

Liberal council motions are not binding on the political wing and are likely to be referred to policy committees.

Mr Abbott used the federal council to attack Bill Shorten’s trustworthiness as party leaders told delegates they now were ­closer to the next election than the last.

Despite federal director Brian Loughnane playing down talk of an early election, the conference ­operated under a campaign-like banner: “A Strong Economic Plan Backing Hardworking Australians”.

The party unveiled a slick new attack advertisement against the Opposition Leader.

The ad says he is “too weak’’ to lead Australia and focuses on his pivotal role in the Rudd and Gillard leadership turmoil and his ­activities as a union leader. Mr Shorten has “too much baggage’’ and is the wrong choice for Australia, the advertisement says.

But Mr Shorten hit back ­yesterday.

“If Tony Abbott, the man who has broken more promises than he’s kept, wants to go to an election on the issue of trust — bring it on,” Mr Shorten said.

He said the weekend’s Liberal federal council had produced no positive policies and no new ideas for the future from the Liberal Party.

“On climate change, on racial discrimination, on indigenous recognition the Liberals are stuck in the past fighting yesterday’s battles,’’ he said.

The party avoided confrontation on the floor of the council on a contentious climate change motion that doubted the science of climate change.

Instead, the motion was referred to a policy committee.

The federal council also passed a motion for the creation of a registered organisations commission “to ensure greater transparency and accountability for union and employer organisations’’.