Indigenous ex-minister Ken Wyatt leaves Liberals over Peter Dutton’s decision to block Voice referendum

Former Indigenous Australians minister Ken Wyatt has left the Liberals following the party’s decision to oppose the referendum on Indigenous voting.

Mr Wyatt, the first Indigenous person to hold the portfolio, reportedly tendered his resignation on Thursday.

“I still believe in the values ​​of the Liberal Party, but I don’t believe in what the Liberals have become,” he told the Western Australian newspaper.

“Aboriginal people are trying to be heard, but the liberals have turned down their invitation.”

The resignation follows the Liberal Party’s decision to support the constitutional recognition of indigenous peoples in the constitution, but not a firm voice in parliament and the executive government.

Mr Wyatt was a member of the referendum working group that helped shape the final proposal that was put to the public at the poll later this year.

He also served as a cabinet member in Scott Morrison’s government when an earlier version of the Indigenous vote was considered.

Mr Wyatt served as a minister from 2019 to 2022 before losing his WA seat in the last federal election.

Meanwhile, outspoken backbencher Bridget Archer has also considered stepping down over the party’s voting position.

She said like-minded moderate liberals are keeping her on the opposition benches as she fights for the party’s return as a “credible alternative” to the government.

“Sometimes I consider (resigning) and then I consider the people in the Liberal Party who share my views … people I consider to be like-minded liberals,” she told ABC Radio National on Thursday.

“I’m staying because I know I’m not the only one who feels that way and I’m staying because I think the Liberal Party is at a crossroads.”

Ms Archer said it was another example of the Liberal Party not presenting a credible alternative to the opposition government.

She said she was concerned about opposition leader Peter Dutton confirming he would actively support a ‘no’ campaign on the vote.

“We’ve already seen warnings from the racial discrimination commissioner about the rhetoric we’re seeing from a ‘no’ campaign,” she said.

“It’s going to be an unpleasant and divisive road ahead if it goes on like this… and we should try not to even want to stand next to that kind of language and that kind of affectation.”

Former Liberal leader John Hewson said Dutton had not learned lessons from the party’s recent historic loss in the Aston by-election.

Dr. Hewson said Mr Dutton would probably think his ‘no’ stance would be the critical blow to the Indigenous vote.

Aston’s result, with the government winning a seat from the opposition in a by-election for the first time in over 100 years, showed that the Liberals needed to change their approach.

“One of the messages from Aston was that people are tired of politicians playing games, just scoring points against each other based on the opposition’s negativity,” he said.

Former Deputy Liberal leader and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Fred Chaney said the decision to oppose the vote was a “huge disappointment”.

“I’m not surprised unfortunately because I think they’re desperate for political advantage here, rather than treating it as a serious issue and I think it’s a big sell-out of their own legacy,” he told ABC Radio.

‘They’re playing politics with this, I think they’ve been doing that for months. This whole demand for more details has been a cover for the desire to oppose it.’