Aboriginal elders in David Littleproud's western Queensland electorate have rebuked the federal National Party over its pledge to oppose an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
The Nationals leader cited extensive consultation, including with elders in his own electorate, when explaining why his party was unable to back the Voice.
"He hasn't consulted anybody in my community that I know of," Gunggari elder Lynette Nixon said.
"I think he needs to do more before he starts making statements like that."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged to have a referendum on the Voice during his first term in power.
A Voice to Parliament would be a permanent body representing First Nations people that would advise government on Indigenous policy.
The Nationals on Monday said they had come to their decision unanimously, with the understanding that the Voice would be a symbolic change rather than produce practical outcomes for Indigenous people, particularly on closing the gap.
On Tuesday, federal NSW Nationals MP Andrew Gee said he remained a "long-term supporter of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament".
"I wasn’t present for the Nationals' party room meeting on the issue yesterday as I was in Eugowra but my position on it hasn't changed," he said in a statement.
"While I respect the opinions of my colleagues, I'm still a supporter."
Speaking on Monday, Mr Littleproud cited elders in his electorate who he said he had consulted on the matter.
"Traditional owners in western Queensland, some of them said to me, 'I have no idea what this is, mate. It means nothing to me. It won't help me, so thanks for asking,'" Mr Littleproud said.
The ABC has asked Mr Littleproud for a list of the people he has consulted but that request has gone unanswered.
The Nationals leader represents the electorate of Maranoa, where he says Aboriginal elders have not been consulted by the government about the Voice.
Mr Littleproud is Ms Nixon's federal MP.
"I think he needs to talk to more communities," Ms Nixon said.
Her comments echo other Indigenous Australians, who have spoken out against the Nationals in the last day.
One of Australia's most prominent Indigenous people has offered a scathing assessment of Mr Littleproud, who he has described as a "kindergarten kid" and accused of backflipping on support for the Voice.
Quandamooka man and director of the From the Heart campaign, Dean Parkin, said the Nationals had jumped the gun, while Wiradjuri man and Uluru Dialogue director Geoff Scott said he hoped the Nationals might still change their mind.
Liberals yet to decide on Voice
The Nationals became the first major political party to oppose the Voice on Monday.
The senior Coalition party, the Liberals, are yet to reach a position.
Frontbencher Jane Hume said the party would not be rushed and instead wanted more information from the government.
"My concern is if you do it this way you will look shifty and you are setting yourself up for failure," Senator Hume said.
"We want to see Indigenous recognition in the constitution, we want to see you succeed, but you are going to fail unless you are honest with the Australian people."
Shadow Indigenous Affairs Spokesman Julian Leeser, a long-term supporter of the Voice, said Australians had legitimate questions the government was yet to answer.
Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney, who NT senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price accused of "dripping in Gucci" during visits to remote communities, said it was for the public, not politicians, to decide on a Voice.
She told the parliament she was confident the Australian people would back the cause.
"An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice is an idea who's time has come," she said.
"It is the Australian people who will decide this referendum, not politicians. And I have faith in the Australian people."
