While the federal Liberal Party formally opposes an Indigenous Voice to parliament, a group of former MPs, backbenchers and state politicians are forming a Yes campaign.
The “Liberals for Voice” is being launched to provide information to liberal voters to make them comfortable with the proposal.
National Convenor for Liberals for YES and a former Chief Minister for the ACT, wants to move debate away from parliament and into communities.
She disagrees with those suggesting the Voice isn’t practical.
“Indigenous policy hasn’t been a success under successive governments for a very long time.
As a liberal, I believe that policy should be practical, it should work, it should be focused on practical outcomes.
What the Voice does, it gives parliament and the executive (government) an opportunity to consult with Indigenous Australians early on in the policy process.
Now if you consult early with the people who are effected by the policy you’ve got much more chance that the policy will be practical, will actually work and deliver some outcomes,” she said.
The campaign also includes federal backbenchers Julian Leeser and Bridget Archer, Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff, ACT Liberal Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee, former senator Gary Humphries and NSW Member for Manly James Griffin.
The Liberal party’s national leader Peter Dutton has vocally opposed the proposal, saying the current proposition will create a “Canberra voice” where Indigenous communities in major cities across the country will be given more attention than rural and remote areas.
