The shadow minister for Indigenous Australians, Julian Leeser, has quit the shadow cabinet, declaring he was resigning “on a point of principle” so he could campaign for a yes vote at the referendum to insert an Indigenous Voice into the Constitution.
Leeser’s shock action has dramatically undermined the decision by opposition leader Peter Dutton and the Liberal Party to oppose the Voice at the referendum later this year. Dutton has said he intends to actively campaign for the no case.
The stand by Leeser will put pressure on other frontbenchers who are opposed to or doubtful about the Liberals’ hard-no position.
