Former Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt Leaves Liberal Party Over Voice to Parliament Stance

Ken Wyatt, former minister for Indigenous Australians in the Morrison government, has quit the Liberal Party due to its decision to oppose the government’s plan to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the Constitution. Wyatt lost his WA seat of Hasluck in the 2022 federal election.

Wyatt’s departure from the party is a clear indication of his disagreement with the Liberals’ stance on the Voice. Although largely symbolic, it highlights the government’s criticism over the decision and the party’s internal divisions.

Federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton announced the party’s formal opposition to the government’s model after a party room meeting in Canberra on Wednesday. The Liberals have faced harsh criticism from Indigenous leaders, including Noel Pearson, who urged the party to support the Voice.

This year, Australians will vote on whether an independent advisory body for First Nations people should be enshrined in the constitution. Mr Wyatt had previously pushed for the referendum to be held after 2023 and advocated for local voice models that would feed into a national voice to give Aboriginal people a say.

Liberal frontbencher Paul Fletcher expressed his respect for Mr Wyatt’s decision and believes that it is important to have a respectful process across Australia as they go through this referendum in relation to the Voice. Senator Linda Reynolds also expressed her sadness at Wyatt’s decision but was proud of his advocacy for the current model the Liberal Party has adopted.

Wyatt was part of the Albanese Labor government’s Referendum Working Group and stood alongside in support of the prime minister as he announced the wording of the proposed question and constitutional amendment last week. Labor senator and Special Envoy for Reconciliation Pat Dodson said he did not believe Wyatt would have “made the decision lightly”.

Mr Wyatt had previously called on the party leadership to allow all MPs a conscience vote, and in June last year, the WA branch of the Liberal Party passed a motion at its state conference urging Peter Dutton to oppose the Voice. At the time, Mr Wyatt expressed disappointment with the party’s decision and believed that it was out of touch with what the WA community wanted.

In conclusion, Mr Wyatt’s resignation from the Liberal Party reflects his discontent with the party’s opposition to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the Constitution. As Australians prepare to vote on this issue later this year, the debate over the Voice will continue to be a significant and polarising issue in Australian politics.

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Former Minister Ken Wyatt Resigns from Liberal Party over Indigenous Voice to Parliament Stance

Ken Wyatt, who served as the minister for Indigenous Australians in the Morrison government, has resigned from the Liberal Party due to its decision to formally oppose the government’s plan to establish an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the Constitution. Wyatt’s resignation is a significant indication of his dissatisfaction with the Liberal Party’s stance on the issue, and it highlights the growing rift within the party over the proposed Voice.

Lack of Impact on Party’s Numbers

While Wyatt’s departure is largely symbolic and won’t impact the Liberals’ numbers in the House of Representatives, it is a clear sign of the party’s divide on the matter. On Wednesday, the federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton announced the party’s formal opposition to the government’s model after a party room meeting in Canberra.

Wyatt, who lost his WA seat of Hasluck in the 2022 federal election, had previously pushed for the referendum to be held after 2023 and had also backed the need for local voice models that would feed into a national voice to give Aboriginal people a say. However, the Liberal Party’s position opposes the government’s plan to enshrine an independent advisory body for First Nations people in the constitution.

Wyatt’s Disappointment with Party’s Decision

In response to the party’s decision, Wyatt voiced his disappointment in June last year, telling the ABC he did not believe the party represented what the WA community wanted. “I just find it very disappointing that a party that I have been heavily involved with, believe in, and see as having a set of values that match mine, make such a decision,” he said at the time. Mr Wyatt said that the motion passed by the WA branch of the Liberal Party at its state conference last year, which urged Peter Dutton to oppose the Voice, was “out of touch.”

Wyatt’s advocacy for a conscience vote

Wyatt had also previously called on the party leadership to allow all MPs a conscience vote on the issue. His decision to resign from the party underscores his belief that Indigenous Australians should have a say in the political process and that the Liberal Party should have been more supportive of the government’s plan.

The Need for a Respectful Process

Liberal frontbencher Paul Fletcher said he respected Mr Wyatt’s decision and would leave him to comment on it. “I have enormous respect for Ken Wyatt. I think that’s a respect that is felt right across the Liberal party room,” he said. “What I would say is it is very important that we have a respectful process across Australia as we go through this referendum in relation to the Voice.”

In addition to criticism from the government, the Liberal Party has faced harsh criticism from Indigenous leaders like Noel Pearson, who had urged the party to support the Voice. Australians will vote later this year on whether an independent advisory body for First Nations people should be enshrined in the constitution.

Wyatt’s Work on Referendum Working Group

Wyatt was part of the Albanese Labor government’s Referendum Working Group and stood alongside in support of the prime minister as he announced the wording of the proposed question and constitutional amendment last week. Labor senator and Special Envoy for Reconciliation Pat Dodson said he did not believe Mr Wyatt would have “made the decision lightly.” “He would have angst over it,” he said. “I think Ken will be very disappointed that a party which he thought would be able to achieve these things has turned its back on this and made a definite ‘no’ that they will not support recognition and a capacity for Aboriginal people to have a say to the parliament and the executive on matters that affect them.”