Liberal backbencher Bridget Archer says Voice is just an early step in positive direction

Jarred Cross
Jarred Cross Published August 15, 2023 at 4.00pm (AWST)

Tasmanian Liberal MP Bridget Archer wants differing views to align on viewing the Voice to Parliament as an early step towards reconciliation.

The opposition backbencher, among a handful of colleagues, has supported the proposal in the lead up to this year's referendum.

Peter Dutton announced Liberal's formal position against the Voice in April.

Speaking to a webinar from public policy think tank the Australia Institute on Monday, Ms Archer cited the licence given to backbenchers within the party to cross the floor.

The member for Bass said "tribal politics" should be put aside as a general rule within politics.

Shifting to the Voice, she championed self-determination as a measure toward positive results.

"In all the things that we do and in all of the issues that I think we confront we know there's a huge amount of evidence to suggest that if you directly consult with people who are affected by the decisions that you make that you get a better outcome," Ms Archer said.

"And that's really it's really that at its (the Voice to Parliament's) heart, that is compelling to me."

Mr Dutton has criticised the Government's rollout of the proposal before the nation casts its vote in the final months of 2023.

Recent polling has indicated a significant turn away from the Voice.

Throughout political and public debate, Mr Dutton has issued warnings of division as a result of, and per clashing opinion on the Voice.

Last week, he committed to constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians and a legislated local and regional Voice model under a Coalition Government.

"And I think 80% of Australians would (Vote for Constitutional recognition), and I think that would be the unifying moment for our country. Instead, we're on a path to dividing the country," he told 2GB radio.

"I think the important point is that the public is supportive of constitutional recognition, but the public is not ready for a Voice…"

Ms Archer said she understands both precautions on the Voice's value in empowering positive change as well as Mr Dutton's assertions a failed referendum would set reconciliation backwards.

However, her objective at present differs.

"I fear of what happens if the referendum fails," she said.

"Peter Dutton has said in the Parliament if the referendum fails, it will set the cause of reconciliation back. Yes, it will, and I think we should be very concerned about that.

"On that basis I would say to try to help to make a yes vote successful and we should all be invested in seeing reconciliation advance.

"This is an advisory body.

"If it fails, there'll be an awful lot of work to be done and we will have eroded so much trust."

Ms Archer said the debate over the Voice's value, from either side, is a "good clue that it probably sits at about the right place that it needs to be", should the referendum return a Yes vote.

"There'll be some more work to be done after that," she said.

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