Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg says opposing the Voice to Parliament on the grounds of process is not a good enough excuse and "too important to play politics".
On Tuesday, Mr Bragg commended Julian Leeser's efforts towards an enshrined Voice shortly after the former shadow Attorney-General and shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians resigned from the Liberal front bench citing personal difference to the party's official 'no' stance, a proposal announced by Peter Dutton last week.
Mr Bragg has been a vocal supporter of the Voice in recent months, last week advocating for party-wide freedom for a conscious vote, in concert with previous referendums and the 2017 plebiscite on marriage equality.
Liberal backbenchers retain the opportunity to vote against party lines.
Mr Leeser has previously co-chaired a committee on constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. He will remain in Parliament as the member for Berowra.
In a statement on Tuesday, Mr Bragg again backed a 'yes' vote and said Mr Leeser's resignation would act to strengthen the 'yes' campaign.
"As an elected official, Julian Leeser has done more than any other constitutional conservative to advance the Indigenous Voice", Mr Bragg said.
"He has engaged deeply in Indigenous communities and crucially, on the legal and constitutional details for a decade. He has invested a huge amount of his political capital in an issue which has been highly contested within the Liberal party.
"Julian has always understood a successful referendum would be considerably more likely with liberal and conservative support.
"This referendum is too important to play politics and it is not good enough to oppose the referendum on process grounds.
"I want the referendum to be successful and I believe a 'yes' vote is now more likely because of Julian's conviction."
"As Julian said in his statement, the immediate take is to engage deeply in the Committee process. There will be more to say about campaigning arrangements following the Committee process," Mr Bragg said.
In his announcement on Tuesday, Mr Leeser remained supportive of ongoing parliamentary committee meetings to discuss the proposal and stood by his position on favouring a regional and community Voice over the current proposal, but stands in favour of a referendum later this year.
"With a referendum due later this year, I believe the time for the Voice has come," Mr Leeser said.
"I believe in local and regional voices. I believe in a national Voice drawn from local and regional bodies, and I will support the referendum being put this year. "
He said his belief is that the Voice will "shift the dial" on a range of issues concerning Indigenous Australians.
A number of fellow MP's have come out in support of Mr Leeser, including fellow Liberal and supporter of the Voice, Bridget Archer.
Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney said his decision showed strength by "putting his principles ahead of politics".
Following Mr Leeser's resignation, opposition leader Peter Dutton said the majority of the Liberal party hold views in opposition to the Voice as it stands.
