Liberal MP who quit front bench to back Voice pushes changes to boost Yes vote's chances

Giovanni Torre
Giovanni Torre Published May 17, 2023 at 8.20am (AWST)

Former shadow minister for Indigenous Australians, Julian Leeser, will move two amendments to the Voice constitutional alteration when Parliament returns next week.

Mr Leeser, who resigned from the Coalition's front bench after the federal Liberal Party announced it would oppose the national Voice to Parliament, said the latest Resolve Poll showed "the electoral prospects for the Voice are not tracking as they should".

The poll of 1,610 people found support for the Indigenous Voice fell to 53 per cent, with 47 per cent against, nationally on a two-answer basis without an undecided option, from 58-42 in April.

Initial preferences were 44 per cent "yes" (down two), 39 per cent "no" (up eight), and 18 per cent undecided (down four).

"The best way to improve the prospects is to limit the arguments of the No case," he said on Wednesday morning.

"That's why I will be moving two amendments to the Voice constitutional alteration when Parliament returns next week. The amendments will strengthen the proposition to be put to the Australian people at the referendum."

Mr Leeser said he believes the Voice should make representations to executive government and that function can be included in legislation rather than in the Constitution.

"My amendments are in keeping with the model that I put forward at the National Press Club in April," he said.

"The Press Club model called on the government to fund local and regional voices. I welcome the decision in the Budget to provide $20 million for regional voices across Australia. This will ensure the national Voice is more effective by being deeply connected to the issues facing local communities.

"I am a supporter of the Voice, I will be voting YES at the referendum, the amendments I am proposing will improve the electoral prospects of the Voice."

Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney told National Indigenous Times the government welcomes "Mr Leeser's continued support for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament".

"I also note that the government has made clear in the 2023 Budget that $20 million has been allocated for regional voices; Regional voices that will be voice from communities to decision-makers in Canberra and state capitals," she said.

"On Mr Leeser's suggestion, the parliamentary inquiry found that our proposed amendment is constitutionally sound and safe, and that our proposal should be supported in the Parliament without any changes. The 2023 referendum will be determined by the Australian people, not politicians, and I have great faith in Australian people to get this done."

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National Indigenous Times

Disclaimer: This function is AI-generated and therefore may mispronounce.