THE SQUIZ
The Liberal Party has rejected the proposal for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, and Coalition leader Peter Dutton says he will campaign for a ‘no’ vote in the upcoming referendum. Following a party meeting yesterday, Dutton called the proposal “the divisive Canberra Voice” and said “I don’t think this is in our country’s best interest.” Instead, the Liberals would support Indigenous recognition in the Constitution. And Dutton reiterated the party’s support for local and regional bodies that would be legislated for “so we can get practical outcomes for Indigenous people on the ground”. Despite the party line, backbenchers will be allowed a conscience vote (but the shadow cabinet will be bound by the decision to oppose the Voice), and they will support the referendum itself being held.

BACK IT UP A BIT…
We won’t labour it, but the proposal Aussies will vote on later this year would see the Constitution amended to establish a permanent body of Indigenous Australians to give independent advice to the Federal Parliament and the Executive Government on matters affecting Indigenous peoples. Instigated by the Uluru Statement from the Heart in 2017, the proposal for the Voice got no traction with the Morrison Government. Fast forward to last year’s federal election, and Labor PM Anthony Albanese committed to it as a priority. Last year, the Nationals ruled out their support – party leader David Littleproud said his MPs in regional and remote communities have seen Indigenous policies fail too many times, and the Voice wouldn’t lead to “closing the gap”. And until yesterday, it was an open question about what the Libs would do.

SO, IT’S A POLITICAL SHOWDOWN?
Well, it’s certainly not the bipartisan exercise many had hoped for… The Liberal position also sets the Coalition against the majority of Australians, at least according to recent polling. Support for the Voice has hovered around the mid-to-high 50s (aka a bit more than half of those surveyed gave the proposal the thumbs up), but those numbers have been on a downward slide since last year. Yesterday, Yes Campaign Alliance boss Dean Parkin said ultimately it’s not about what the politicians think because “the referendum is a decision for the Australian people. Indigenous people have put their faith in the people of Australia because they will get it right.” Still, if historical trends are anything to go by, things have become significantly more difficult for ‘yes’ campaigners. Of 44 previous referendum questions, 8 were successful, and bipartisan support is ideal for success.