A blistering Productivity Commission review says governments have not delivered on their landmark 2020 agreement to transform the way public servants and politicians work with Indigenous Australians.
Former Labor premiers Bob Carr and Steve Bracks have thrown their support behind an Indigenous governor-general,while former Queensland premier Peter Beattie has suggested that could be divisive,so soon after the Voice referendum.
Ken Wyatt says the Voice referendum was too complicated as he called on national cabinet to urgently focus on closing the gap and reviewing Indigenous spending.
The former Coalition Indigenous Australians minister said if Josh Frydenberg had retained his seat of Kooyong at the last election,the Liberal Party would not have rejected the Voice.
Ken Wyatt claimed his former colleague would have changed the essence of the Voice referendum if he was still in parliament,as the ex-treasurer ruled out a return.
Julian Leeser has moved to the backbench to campaign for the Voice in a move that could embolden more pro-Voice backbench Liberals to follow him.
He was once ‘Peter the pragmatist’,but the opposition leader’s success in holding the Liberal show together has been strictly limited.
The smallest fracture in the most polished marble can easily turn into a gaping crack. All it takes is pressure.
The resignation of the senior Liberal figure underscored anxieties within the party over the way Peter Dutton’s alternative model was bulldozed through,though few broke ranks in public.
Dorinda Cox wants more detail to ensure a Yes vote,while another key adviser said the referendum was at risk of “dying on the principles” without more explanation.
Former Indigenous Minister Ken Wyatt dismissed Peter Dutton’s call for a royal commission,saying the Coalition shared the blame for Alice Springs’ woes.