ANALYSIS: Dutton is looking for a classic political turf war — and he has his first victim
abc.net.au/news/liberal-julian-leeser-quitting-frontbench-voice-referendum/102208492The Voice referendum has delivered its first political victim, with opposition Indigenous Australians spokesman Julian Leeser quitting the Liberal frontbench.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is treading a difficult path and his comments after Leeser's departure made clear where he'll be focusing his attention.If today is anything to go by, he'll also be actively campaigning against Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, knowing his best bet is a classic political turf war.
How is it that a man who has advocated for a Voice to Parliament for at least a decade is not only on the frontline of a party opposed to it, but holding both the attorney-general and Indigenous Australians portfolios?"What I'm doing today is to resign on a point of principle so I can campaign Yes," Mr Leeser told a Sydney press conference.It was that principle that ultimately had him falling on his sword.
Leeser fears the current wording of the referendum risks setting it up for failure. He says he will seek to advance changes within the parliament but even if he's unsuccessful, he will back the Voice.In going to the backbench, he joins Tasmanian Liberal Bridget Archer, who's vowing to campaign for the Voice.
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Julian Leeser comes at Voice matter from a ‘unique perspective’: DuttonOpposition leader Peter Dutton says outgoing Shadow Indigenous Australians Minister Julian Leeser comes at the Voice to Parliament issue from a “unique perspective”. “He has an incredible empathy, a desire just to help people and he’s a dear friend and … I’m very pleased that he’s going to continue to fight for our cause because he’s been a lifelong believer in the values of the Liberal Party and he’s living that,' Mr Dutton said during a media conference on Tuesday. “I think it’s the important point to make that Julian’s position in this is pretty unique.”
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Dutton under attack after Leeser resignation over VoiceAnthony Albanese and senior cabinet ministers have welcomed Julian Leeser’s resignation from the Liberal frontbench and launched an attack on Peter Dutton’s “partisan narrow” opposition to the Voice.
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'Disgraceful': Dutton slams 'personal attacks' on Leeser after resignationPeter Dutton has claimed Julian Leeser was subjected to 'disgraceful' personal attacks in recent months as he called on Anthony Albanese to apologise to the former Liberal frontbencher.
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Noel Pearson delivers ‘low blow’ toward Julian Leeser’s Jewish faithThe Voice to Parliament campaign has brought out Noel Pearson’s “inner bully” after a “deliberate low blow” toward Shadow Indigenous Affairs Minister Julian Leeser’s Jewish faith, Sky News host Peta Credlin claims. Mr Pearson questioned whether Mr Leeser wants people to wear a tattoo identifying them as Indigenous or “our clothes should be adorned with some kind of badge identifying us as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander”. “This was a clear reference to what the Nazis did to Jews – the Star of David on their clothing, and of course, later in the death camps, the tattooed numbers on arms,” Ms Credlin said. “It was a calculated attack of carefully chosen words, a deliberate low blow directed at Leeser who is a proud man of Jewish faith.” Ms Credlin said it should be possible to debate the Voice to Parliament without getting “nasty”.
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Julian Leeser to resign from Liberal frontbenchShadow indigenous affairs minister Julian Leeser is expected to resign from the Liberal frontbench less than a week after the opposition revealed its final position on the Voice to Parliament.
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Julian Leeser resigns from shadow cabinet over Liberals’ voice stanceShadow attorney general quits frontbench less than a week after Peter Dutton announced Liberals would oppose Indigenous voice to parliament
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