Lib MP says Voice compromise may help turn 'no' voters

Dominic Giannini and Andrew Brown Published May 23, 2023 at 9.00am (AWST)

The Liberal MP who quit the front bench to campaign for the Indigenous voice says he has worked to quell concerns a compromise still wouldn't get his party onside.

The referendum is facing a rocky path to success, with the Liberals and Nationals coming out against constitutionally enshrining the consultative body.

Former shadow attorney-general Julian Leeser, who resigned from the front bench to support the voice, said removing the provision allowing the voice to make representations to the executive government would swing some voters.

This is despite the assertion making the change wouldn't sway opinion in the Liberal party room.

"I disagreed it won't change a single vote. You've heard my colleague Aaron Violi come out and say that it would make a difference to his vote," he told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.

"This is not about (parliament). This issue leaves this building at the end of June and then it becomes a matter for the Australian people.

"I know there are undecided voters in our communities that want to vote yes, but are concerned about the constitutional provision."

Mr Leeser said he supported the voice being able to make representations to the executive government but said he didn't believe it needed to be in the constitution.

"It's important because it's the executive that makes so many of the key policy decisions that affect Aboriginal people," he said.

"I believe we will go a long way to closing this gap if we adopt the voice."

The lower house will resume debate on the Indigenous voice in parliament on Tuesday, as MPs consider the form of the constitutional change.

Parliament will decide on the wording of the question to be put to the public at the referendum, along with the proposed changes to the constitution itself, should the referendum succeed.

Australians will go to the polls at the referendum at some point between October and December this year.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has been accused of spreading misinformation about the Indigenous voice, as talks on the proposal continue.

Mr Dutton said the proposed Indigenous voice to parliament will take the country backwards, labelling it a reckless roll of the dice and an "overcorrection".

"It will have an Orwellian effect where all Australians are equal, but some Australians are more equal than others," he said.

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney said Mr Dutton's comments put forward "every bit of disinformation and misinformation and scare campaigns that exist in this debate".

"This is not a decision or a plaything of politicians. It is a decision of the Australian people," she said.

Mr Leeser said he wouldn't offer a running commentary on his leader's comments.

"I'll be putting forward a positive case for the things that I believe," he said.

Dominic Giannini and Andrew Brown - AAP

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