Symbolic recognition for First Nations peoples without practical impact ‘not enough’: Leeser

Liberal ex-Indigenous affairs spokesman Julian Leeser has suggested it would be pointless to amend the constitution to recognise First Nations peoples without also taking “practical” steps to “shift the dial on the ground”. 

Leeser, who quit the Coalition frontbench this week because of the Liberals’ opposition to the Voice to Parliament, told Guardian Australia that symbolic constitutional recognition would not be “enough”.

“Uluru, with its dialogues and consultation, led to the view that Indigenous people wanted something that was not just symbolic in the constitution,” Leeser said. 

“What’s the point of doing this if it’s not going to shift the dial on the ground?”

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has sought to portray the government’s model as a “Canberra Voice”, and has instead proposed a series of regional voices that would be established by legislation rather than constitutional amendment. 

He wants the referendum to only ask if First Nations peoples should be recognised in the constitution.

While Dutton has accused the government of not providing enough details about the Voice, his office this week did not respond to questions about his own proposal.

Asked during a visit to Alice Springs how he could justify his Voice stance when it had cost him both Leeser and former Indigenous Australians minister Ken Wyatt — who quit the party in protest — Dutton said: “Well, I mean, you listen to the voice of Jacinta Price, you listen to the voice of Kerrynne Liddle, you listen to many Indigenous people that we’ve spoken to in this community.”

“There are plenty of Indigenous people in this country who are completely opposed to the Voice because they don’t believe that a Canberra voice is going to provide support to the local community here in Alice Springs, in Tennant Creek, in Katherine and elsewhere.”

Liddle, a South Australian senator and the Liberals’ only Indigenous federal parliamentarian, told The Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday she supports Dutton’s stance on the Voice.

While Dutton’s decision to oppose the Voice has been applauded by some conservative figures, it has also led to blistering attacks by some Indigenous leaders, including Noel Pearson, who accused the Liberal Party of a “Judas betrayal”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vowed to hold a referendum asking Australians if they agree to alter the constitution in order to establish a “body [that] may make representations to the Parliament and the executive government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples”.

“The Parliament shall, subject to this constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures,” the draft constitutional amendment would say.

The Uluru Statement from the Heart calls for “the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the constitution”.

The Nationals confirmed in November that they would oppose the Voice.