Senior Liberal says Voice will ‘move Australia forward’ as he joins PM in campaign

The only Liberal Premier in Australia says the Voice will “move us forward as a nation”, in stark opposition to the messaging of Peter Dutton.

The most senior Liberal in Australia – the Tasmanian Premier – has officially broken ranks with the federal party’s position, standing alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to launch a Voice campaign.

In a message to Peter Dutton and other “No” campaigners, Jeremy Rockliff said the Voice is about “moving forward together as a nation, with unity and purpose and listening to our national Indigenous Australians on the best way forward”.

“It’s high time we took responsibility and found another way … that moves us forward as a nation and a way that we can firstly recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our national constitution, but also simply sit down and work through the issues in a consultative way on how we can best move this country forward and ensure that we can close the gap on all those important areas,” he said.

“My vote, the PM’s vote … is just like every other Australian’s. I believe this is in the best interests of the nation.”

Mr Rockliff joined Mr Albanese in Hobart to launch the 14,000km journey of former Liberal MP and ultra-marathon runner Pat Farmer.

Mr Farmer will run around 80km a day over the next six months in a bid to raise awareness and build momentum for the Voice across the country. He will finish his quest in Uluru, which Mr Albanese said was “fitting”.

Pat Farmer is an ultra-marathon runner, a former Liberal MP, and he’s running 14,400km to support the Voice.

He's leaving today to run around Australia. The whole way around. And he’ll finish at the heart of our country – Uluru. pic.twitter.com/r5CzqtblIh

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) April 17, 2023

Tasmanian MP Bridget Archer – a backbencher in Mr Dutton’s party – was also in attendance, having made her support for the Voice known in the weeks since the party’s decision was finalised.

Mr Albanese said the campaign “should be above politics, because it’s about justice”.

“It’s about doing the right thing. It’s about advancing reconciliation; that’s why were seeing such momentum,” he said.

“This is a gracious, generous offer from First Nations people – this is a hand out asking in that great Australian way … to come together as an acknowledgment.

“We should have the fortitude and the grace to embrace the opportunity which we have to go forward.”

Mr Rockliff said he would “proudly” be voting yes, despite the majority of his federal counterparts doing otherwise – and encouraged all Australians to do the same.

“This is about moving forward as a nation with unity and purpose,” he said.

“Listening to Indigenous Australians about what is best for them.

“Whichever way we cut it, we have failed as a nation and it’s high time we took responsibility and found a better way.”

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff supports the Voice. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Mr Dutton earlier this month confirmed the party would not be supporting the Voice as is currently proposed, calling it a “Canberra Voice” which they argue will do little to support Indigenous Australians.

The Coalition instead wants legislated local and regional voices, but Mr Albanese on Monday reiterated the government was committed to rolling these out and using the national voice to co-ordinate.

“Nothing could be further from the truth than this being a Canberra Voice; this is a voice to Canberra from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” Mr Albanese said.

“But it’s also for non-Indigenous Australians about how we see ourselves.”

Originally published as Senior Liberal says Voice will ‘move Australia forward’ as he joins PM in campaign