A Victorian upper house Liberal MP has likened an Indigenous Voice to parliament to racial divisions in South Africa, saying it will divide the nation on colour alone.
The opinion piece highlights the challenge Opposition Leader John Pesutto has in keeping his party room united ahead of a looming debate on constitutional reform.Western Victoria MP Beverley McArthur, from the party’s right faction, published an opinion piece in the conservativeIn the op-ed, McArthur writes that a constitutionally enshrined Voice “divides on colour” and that the body would become a legal and legislative nightmare.
Pesutto on Thursday said he expected the Victorian opposition to formalise its position on a federal Voice to Parliament by the end of May. Liberal MPs are expecting to hold a party room debate on the issue in the weeks after they return from the Easter holidays. Pesutto, who holds the neighbouring electorate of Hawthorn and is also from the party’s moderate faction, has not yet revealed his position because he wants all members of his party room to “feel they can engage in the debate, whatever their viewpoints might be”.
Some MPs believe the state opposition doesn’t need to arrive at a formal position. Others say they don’t mind coming to a consensus on a national issue but have lingering concerns about constitutional reform and whether the federal government will constantly be dragged to the High Court.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Victorian Liberals stance on Voice to be revealed ‘in coming weeks’John Pesutto has revealed when the Victorian Liberal Party will come to a position on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, and whether it will be a binding or free vote.
Read more »
Voice to the Parliament: Liberals not allowing free vote on Voice is ‘curious’, former Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman saysFormer Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman says issues arising from the Liberals’ No stance could have been averted; rising mortgage repayments don’t equate to a “household catastrophe”, Bill Shorten says; WA braces for Cyclone Ilsa. Follow updates here.
Read more »
Letters: Budgets and a need for balanceVictorian finances; stage three tax cuts; careless use of language; the Voice and Liberal values; bank transaction charges; university research funding.
Read more »
Voice inquiry must test wording or risk failure: LeeserEXCLUSIVE: Pro-Voice Liberal MP Julian Leeser says the inquiry into the Voice must step into the shoes of the High Court and stress-test the wording of the amendment.
Read more »