One of the most prominent Indigenous figures in recent Liberal politics says the Voice to Parliament will be hamstrung if it cannot directly advise ministers, saying his former colleagues should have "no reason to be afraid" of the proposal.
Speaking publicly for the first time since resigning his membership, Ken Wyatt told 7.30 it had been a "hard decision".
"I had to weigh up my love of the Liberal Party and its values, and what it stands for, against a stubborn position of not wanting to give Aboriginal people a seat at the table," Mr Wyatt said.
Mr Wyatt was asked if he thought there was any form of words that would have satisfied the Liberal leadership, to which he replied: "No, I don't think so."
Ken Wyatt was minister for Indigenous Australians under the Morrison Government.
He quit the Liberal Party last week, less than 24 hours after Opposition leader Peter Dutton announced the party would campaign for the "No" case in the upcoming referendum to enshrine an Indigenous advisory body in the Constitution.
In outlining his opposition to the Voice, Mr Dutton expressed concerns about allowing the Voice to advise executive government.
Mr Wyatt said it was essential that the Voice could speak directly to government and was the equivalent to the various stakeholders who routinely lobby ministers during the development of new policy.
"It's too late after a party room [meeting], it's too late after it's been tabled in the parliament," Mr Wyatt said.
Peter Dutton: Principle or political opportunism?
Asked whether the Opposition leader was acting out of principle or political opportunism in opposing the voice, Mr Wyatt said it was "probably a combination of both".
Pressed on Mr Dutton's description of the Voice as bureaucratic and elitist, Wyatt said: "That's far from the truth … it's not a Canberra voice. It is not elite. It is people from the grassroots."
Mr Wyatt's resignation was followed on Wednesday by the departure of Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians, Julian Leeser, from the Coalition's frontbench.
In a press conference earlier on Tuesday, he said: "I believe the Voice can help move the dial on Indigenous education, health, housing, safety and economic development. I believe better policy is made when the people affected by it are consulted.
"Unlike almost any other party in the parliament, the Liberal Party gives backbenchers the freedom to champion the ideas they believe in. I want to exercise that freedom because I intend to campaign for a 'Yes' vote."
Pragmatism and regrets
As a minister in the previous government, Mr Wyatt advocated for introducing the Voice through normal legislation as a compromise, rather than holding a referendum to insert it in the constitution.
Asked by 7.30's Sarah Ferguson if he regretted that "pragmatism", Mr Wyatt replied: "I do, in hindsight."
"It was about taking the next step, of starting the process," he said.
"But it was never the intent not to have a national voice."
Mr Wyatt said he would be "deeply saddened" if the Voice was defeated at the referendum.
Indigenous people, he said, had made a huge contribution to building the modern Australian nation.
"Their contribution to build the foundation of our economy, our country and our way of life should be acknowledged by reciprocating and saying, 'Hey, we want to give you the opportunity to sit at the table and express your views'."
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