Mettam to vote yes on Voice referendum

All major party leaders in Western Australia will support a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament with Libby Mettam declaring she will personally back a ‘yes’ vote at the upcoming referendum.

Ms Mettam, who successfully challenged for the position of Liberal Party WA leader in January, told Business News about her stance over the weekend, before federal opposition leader Peter Dutton decided to formally oppose the proposal.

That followed the loss of Aston at Saturday’s by-election, the first in more than 100 years in which a government gained a seat from an opposition.

Mr Dutton has refused to resign his position following the result.

That’s despite him having said in the weeks before the poll that the outcome would be a “verdict” on party leadership.

His opposition to the Voice came after a number of frontbenchers, including deputy party leader Sussan Ley and shadow attorney general Julian Leeser, expressed scepticism over the amendment’s draft wording and criticised a lack of accompanying legislative detail.

Liberal backbenchers will be free to determine their position, with NSW Senator Andrew Bragg and Tasmania MP Bridget Archer likely to support a 'yes' vote.

Ms Mettam, whose view is understood to be personal in nature and not representative of her party room, has previously said she supports the Voice without stating a position on the referendum.

She now joins Mark McGowan and Shane Love in personally supporting a ‘yes’ vote.

“I will be voting yes as I support recognition of our First Nations people in the constitution, but I also strongly support all Australians being able to make their own decision,” she said.

“Given this is a Commonwealth matter which will ultimately be decided by a referendum, the priority must be to ensure Australians understand how the model will work at a practical level to improve the lives and outcomes of First Nations people.”

Mr McGowan’s support for the Voice was made official in February when national cabinet endorsed a statement of intent supporting a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament.

Mr Love and his predecessor as opposition leader Mia Davies have also expressed personal support for a ‘yes’ vote, despite their federal colleagues in the National Party endorsing a ‘no’ position at the end of last year.

Asked this morning about the Liberal Party's approach to the issue, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese lashed Mr Dutton, arguing he had sought to undermine the referendum.

"That's my assessment. People will make their own assessment," he said.

To read more about what to expect from the Voice to Parliament and where prominent Western Australians stand on the issue, pick up the next edition of Business News, out April 17.