Following his decision to leave the frontbench in favor of backing the yes side in the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, Liberal MP Julian Leeser praised the strength of the party.
The former shadow attorney general and Indigenous Australians spokesman claimed he still backed the party and leader Peter Dutton but disagreed with him on the Voice vote during an appearance on Today this morning.
He will switch to the backbenches while still being a party member.
He told Today reporter Sarah Abo, “The Liberal Party is not in ruins, I support the leadership of Peter Dutton, I love the party, we just have a difference of view on this topic.
“I’ve been a very longtime supporter of the Voice; I’ve been there since its inception. Before I was a member of parliament, I founded an organization to inspire people to support the Voice.
“I felt that I had to resign, to take a different position, because it was a matter of conscience and my own ethics — that you have to stand up for something, even if it costs you.”
Following Dutton’s announcement last week that the Liberals would oppose the Voice, the decision was made.
Instead, it will run campaigns in First Nations communities for local and regional organizations.
Leeser declared that while he backed the Voice, he wanted the government’s model changed.
I believe the government’s model is flawed, so I will spend the next six weeks advocating for a better one. In my opinion, this might be beneficial for Indigenous Australians.
Leeser is the third Coalition member to leave recently due to the Voice.
After Dutton unveiled his Voice policy, the former minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, left the Liberal Party. Meanwhile, MP Andrew Gee left the Nationals and will now serve as an independent.
The Nationals, a minor coalition partner of the Liberals, had previously declared their opposition to the Voice.
Lesser will advocate for modifications to the Voice from the backbenches, including adopting the local and regional policy and allowing the government to alter the Voice over time.
Politics are complicated, but I’ve made a stand out of morality, he declared.
“It’s a strength that I can continue to be a member of the Liberal Party, loyal to Peter Dutton’s leadership, and able to run for office on this particular issue,”
An independent group of First Nations leaders would advise parliament on issues that are crucial to improving the lives of Indigenous Australians under The Voice.
If this year’s referendum is successful, it would become a part of the Constitution.
