Former Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt has called for Liberal MPs to be given a conscience vote on Voice to Parliament

Former Liberal Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt has called on Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to give MPs a conscience vote on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

The comments from the first Aboriginal Australian to hold the Indigenous Affairs portfolio came after Mr Dutton released a letter accusing the government of “treating the Australian people like mugs” by failing to provide adequate details for Australians to make an informed decision about the Voice proposal. 

“I would urge the Liberal Party to support the Voice but if there is dissension within the party then at least give members a conscience vote,” Mr Wyatt said.

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Over the weekend Opposition Leader Peter Dutton released a letter with a list of 15 questions the government needs to answer about the Voice in order for the Australian public to be able to make an informed decision.

“If the referendum is successful, a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament will be a body without precedent and a significant change in how Australia is governed,” Mr Dutton said.

“Many Australians do not understand the scope and operation of the Voice and expect comprehensive information before being asked to vote.

“Regrettably, it now appears clear that your political strategy is to not provide adequate detail for Australians to make an informed decision.”

Mr Dutton said the government’s decision not to provide “accessible, clear and complete” information about their preferred version of the Voice was “condemning it to failure” and damaging reconciliation efforts in the process.

“All voting Australians have a right to make a fully informed decision when considering an issue as significant as changing our Constitution,” Mr Dutton said.

“In refusing to provide basic information and answer reasonable questions on the Voice, you are treating the Australian people like mugs.”

Mr Wyatt said the premise of the Voice was to give local communities a greater say in what happens in their communities, arguing it would be similar to how the Commonwealth and state governments consult peak organisations and local governments.

He also warned about the consequences of rejecting the Voice.

“We will condemn our nation and our indigenous Australians to continue living the level of disparity that we have seen for decades,” Mr Wyatt said.

However, critics of the proposal have disputed claims the Voice would improve the circumstances for Indigenous Australians and argued there is no need for it to be inserted into the Constitution.

On Friday Indigenous activist Warren Mundine said the Voice proposal was the same approach to Indigenous affairs that had been tried and failed numerous times over the last 50 years.

“It’s the same thing that we’ve tried about five times before,” Mr Mundine said.

“If they think it’s such a great idea – that it’s going to cure all the ills of the world for Aboriginal people – why don’t they just legislate it now and get on with the job?”