BREAKING: NSW MP Andrew Gee has quit the Nationals and will move to the crossbench because of the party’s decision to oppose the Voice to Parliament.
NSW MP Andrew Gee has quit the Nationals and will move to the crossbench because of the party’s decision to oppose the Voice to Parliament.
Gee made the announcement in a lengthy post on Facebook on Friday morning, declaring his resignation was effective immediately.Credit:“The recent decision by the National Party to oppose the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, and also witnessing the devastation our region has experienced over the past few weeks, has really brought home to me the importance of being able to stand up and be counted,” he said.
“I can’t reconcile the fact that every Australian will get a free vote on the vitally important issue of the Voice, yet National Party MPs are expected to fall into line behind a party position that I fundamentally disagree with, and vote accordingly in Parliament. While I respect the views of my colleagues, this just isn’t right.”
The Nationals announced in November they would formally oppose the Voice to parliament, which will be put to a referendum in the second half of 2023, but within 24 hours the party had split over the issue. Gee broke ranks to express his support for the Voice, the Western Australian state branch expressed support for the proposed referendum and former federal leader Michael McCormack said the party could reverse its position next year, depending on the details of the proposal.
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