Australia

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to attend Voice to Parliament referendum working group after receiving invite

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has accepted an invitation to attend a working group on the Voice to Parliament referendum.

Mr Dutton has been a prominent critic over the lack of information surrounding the Albanese Government’s landmark proposal, telling Sky News Australia of his willingness to attend such a meeting.

He will virtually join the Thursday Canberra-based meeting due to him being in Sydney for Cardinal George Pell’s funeral.

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Speaking to Sky News Australia last Wednesday Prime Minister Anthony Albanese extended the invite to Mr Dutton, as he urged bipartisanship.

“Mr Dutton would be very welcome to sit down at one of the referendum working group meetings,” he said at the time.

Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Julian Leeser also indicated he would be open to attending a meeting during an interview with Sky News Australia.

“I’d be delighted to attend the Indigenous working group I look forward to meeting with them and talking to them,” he said last week.

“And hearing what they’re doing and also putting the concerns that I am hearing from Australians who want to support this but don’t feel they have enough detail.”

The Liberal Party is yet to come to an official position on the Constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament, but Mr Dutton has indicated it will happen early this year.

Some Liberal backbenchers have argued MPs should be able to decide for themselves if they want to support or oppose the Voice instead of a unified and binding position.

Former Liberal minister for Indigenous affairs Ken Wyatt said MPs should be allowed to be given a conscience vote on it.

“I would urge the Liberal Party to support the Voice but if there is dissension within the party then at least give members a conscience vote,” Mr Wyatt said earlier this month.

The Nationals announced in late November it would oppose the Voice after consulting with Indigenous communities across the country.

The move caused a rift within the party, with the Nationals in Western Australia and now-independent MP Andrew Gee both voicing support for the Voice within days of the announcement.

Leader David Littleproud said his MPs in regional and remote communities have seen Indigenous policies fail time and time again and that a Voice to Parliament would not lead to “closing the gap”.

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