Canberra Liberals MLA Mark Parton has become the second in his party to publicly announce his position on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, putting him at odds on the issue with fellow MLA Jeremy Hanson.
Mr Parton, who has Noongar heritage, said he had initially leaned towards voting no after speaking with people involved in that campaign, but later changed his mind.
He said he came to the decision to vote yes after conversations with First Nations Noongar community members in Western Australia.
"I believed that I would have probably fallen on the no side, and that was based on early conversations with Jacinta Price and others," Mr Parton said.
"But the more conversations that I had, particularly with the people from my mob, from the Noongar mob in Western Australia, the more conversations I had and the more I looked into it, I just could not in my heart vote no, I just couldn't."
Mr Parton discovered his Aboriginal ancestry last year, and said on Wednesday he did not identify as Aboriginal, but the revelation had prompted him to delve deeper into the historical experiences of Indigenous Australians.
"The crimes that were committed against Aboriginal Australians in that period, I just can't fathom now," he said.
Mr Parton said he felt a Voice to Parliament would mark a positive step towards reconciliation in Australia.
"We have as a country come to understand our Indigenous past and come to accept and embrace First Nations people more and more and I just see this as a part of that process," he said.
Mr Parton's view is also at odds with the Liberal Party at a federal level, after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton earlier this month confirmed he would oppose the Voice to Parliament.
Parton says he respects colleague's perspective
In March this year, Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee said the Canberra Liberals would not take a position on the Voice and would instead allow elected members to vote freely.
The party's deputy leader Jeremy Hanson became the first ACT MLA to announce his opposition to a Voice, saying he had concerns it would create "race-based constitutional division".
"I think putting something in our constitution that separates people by race is a backwards step," Mr Hanson said.
"I've met with Jacinta Price, who's obviously a very strong campaigner on the no side of the referendum, and you know if Jacinta wants me to do something to support that case, I am very happy to do that."
Mr Hanson said he had spoken with Indigenous people locally on the issue, but not with those from the yes campaign.
"This isn't just a matter for the Indigenous communities, it's a matter that affects all Canberrans and all Australians and all Australians will have a vote," he said.
"Obviously the Aboriginal community has a view but that is not a single view, there are a lot of different opinions within the Indigenous community about what should happen with the voice."
Mr Parton said he respected Mr Hanson's personal decision on the matter.
"We actually had a discussion in the assembly yesterday, Jeremy and I, where we were thinking of doing a video on it together about our different points of view," he said.
"This is an issue all Australians are being asked to vote on and all you can expect from people is that they examine the issues and make a decision one way or another and Jeremy has gone through that process and for him has fallen on the no side and that's fine."
Mr Parton said he believed the decision was one that all Australians should be able to vote freely on without judgement.
"Don't be angry with people for voting one way or another, this is a referendum, the prime minister has seen this issue as so important that every adult Australian is being asked for their opinion, some will be yes and some will be no, and it's not an answer that you can be wrong on."
Mr Parton said while he would be voting yes, he would not be campaigning for the change.
"I don't see myself campaigning vigorously in this space," he said.
"I don't think it's for me to tell you or anyone else how to vote on this matter.
"Its not the space that I operate in primarily, I think there was some interest from journalists because of my indigenous background but I don't see myself campaigning in this space".
Mr Parton said he did not believe a Voice to Parliament would resolve all of the issues faced by First Nations Australians, but was hopeful that constitutional recognition would help unite Australians.
"I live in the hope that it won't divide, that it will bring us closer together," he said.
