Australia's only Liberal premier defies Dutton and backs the Voice to Parliament

Giovanni Torre
Giovanni Torre Published April 6, 2023 at 9.00am (AWST)

Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff, the only remaining Liberal state government leader after the New South Wales election, has unequivocally thrown his support behind the Voice to Parliament.

Mr Rockliff told The Australian he will campaign "vigorously" for a constitutionally enshrined Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.

On Wednesday Peter Dutton announced the federal Liberal party would oppose the Voice, one of the pillars of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and that frontbench Liberal MPs and senators would be compelled to oppose the Voice or quit their shadow cabinet roles.

WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam broke ranks, supporting the Voice, and the WA Nationals - the largest opposition party in Western Australia - also supports the Voice, having declared their position in November.

Victoria's Liberal leader John Pesutto has said he keeps an open mind on the proposal, and position shared by Queensland LNP leader David Crisafulli.

In December Nationals federal MP Andrew Gee resigned from the party over its opposition to the Voice and now sits as an independent.

"While I respect the views of my colleagues, this just isn't right," he said at the time.

Mr Gee has since campaigned for the Voice alongside Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney.

Federal Liberal MP Bridget Archer has made clear she will actively campaign for the Voice, in defiance of the party leadership's view.

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