Australia news live: Julian Leeser at odds with ‘overwhelming majority’ of Liberal party room on voice, Peter Dutton says | Australia news

Dutton says Australians must look past ‘feelgood’ vibe on voice referendum

Opposition leader Peter Dutton urges Australians look past a “feelgood vibe” when considering their vote on the Voice referendum.

At a superficial level people understand that we need a better outcome for Indigenous Australians, we all have that in our hearts. But we believe we have a better pathway to get there, if it does not disrupt the future of our country and that is why we are campaigning no.

I know that people are motivated by a feelgood … vibe. I understand that, but you need to dig a bit deeper and look at what it is that is being proposed here. It is allowing a national voice that is appointed, not elected, to essentially be another arm of the government to scrutinise, to lobby, to influence every decision of government. Think about that for a second, [is] that in our country’s best interest?

Peter Dutton thanks for attorney general for service to shadow frontbench

Opposition leader Peter Dutton affirms he is not concerned over Leeser’s stepping down from the frontbench in support of the voice to parliament.

Julian has a history … about the design of a voice. As he pointed out today, he has set up an organisation which was designed to bring people together around conditional change.

He comes from a unique perspective. I have worked very closely with him … He is a dear friend and I only thank him for his service on the frontbench to our party.

I’m very pleased that he is going to continue to fight for our cause, because he has a lifelong belief in the values of the Liberal party.

Peter Dutton speaks on Julian Leeser’s resignation from cabinet

What’s up with barley and China?

Here is some context on why barley matters when it comes to Australia and China’s relationship (courtesy of reporting by our foreign affairs and defence correspondent, Daniel Hurst).

The Chinese government rolled out hefty tariffs on a range of Australian exports at the height of diplomatic tensions in 2020 – including wine, barley, coal, timber and lobster.

China is the largest export market for Australian barley, because it is used to make beer and feed livestock. The tariffs intended to bring significant pain to the industry.

You can read more about China’s tarriffs on Australia here:

While some progress has been made in recent months, like the resumption of the coal trade, the wine and barley tariff disputes are considered more complex, with World Trade Organization rulings due in coming months.

So the Australian government announcing a “pathway” to resolve the barley dispute with China after hefty tariffs today is big news. You can read about the pathway here.

Pauline Hanson floats Jacinta Price for shadow cabinet

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is urging Liberal Senator Jacinta Price to be elevated as the Coalition’s shadow minister for Indigenous affairs, after Julian Leeser’s resignation this morning.

‘Constructive dialogue has resumed’ with China, Wong says

Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong and trade minister Don Farrell have announced in a presser that “constructive dialogue has resumed” with China, as a pathway opens to resolving the barley dispute between the two countries.

(Our foreign affairs and defence correspondent Daniel Hurst has given us a breakdown of the pathway earlier in the blog).

“Obviously, stabilisation and the resolution of trade issues will take time. But we’re pleased that constructive dialogue has resumed,” Wong said.

“We’ve had a number of discussions at foreign minister level, at trade minister, at assistant minister level, and also at leader level.

We have made clear that we believe there’s no justification for the measures that China introduced in relation to barley. We have also made clear that we believe it is in both countries’ interests for these trade impediments to be removed. So today I can confirm that China has agreed to undertake an expedited review of the duties imposed on Australian barley over a three-month period, that may extend to a fourth, if required. In return, we have agreed to temporarily suspend the World Trade Organization dispute for the agreed review period.

If it is successful, Wong says we can expect a similar process to be followed in relation to the trade barriers that exist on Australian wine.

Australia announces ‘pathway’ to resolve China barley dispute

Daniel Hurst

Penny Wong praises Leeser: ‘It can’t have been easy for him to do’

Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong has also welcomed Julian Leeser’s decision to quit the the shadow frontbench over his support for an Indigenous voice to parliament:

The referendum is about two things. It’s about recognition and consultation, recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our Australian constitution, and consulting them about matters that affect their lives. That’s what it’s about. And Julian Leeser has shown real strength today. He put his principles first. He put his principles ahead of partisan politics and we welcome that.

It can’t have been easy for him to do. Can’t have been easy for him to relinquish portfolios that he cares so deeply about and he knows as much about this issue as anyone and he understands this is a once in a generation chance to make a real difference in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and to help close the gap.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton will speak to reporters at 1pm, following Julian Leeser’s resignation.

Leeser’s resignation a ‘principled decision’, says Albanese

The prime minister Anthony Albanese has backed Julian Leeser in making “a principled decision” in resigning as shadow minister for Indigenous affairs over the Liberal party’s opposition of the voice to parliament.

Andrew Bragg: ‘Yes vote is now more likely because of Leeser’s conviction’

Liberal senator Andrew Bragg has also praised Julian Leeser as doing more than any other constitutional conservative to advance the Indigenous voice.

[Leeser] has engaged deeply in Indigenous communities and crucially, on the legal and constitutional details for a decade. He has invested a huge amount of his political capital in an issue which has been highly contested within the Liberal party.

Julian has always understood a successful referendum would be considerably more likely with liberal and conservative support.

This referendum is too important to play politics and it is not good enough to oppose the referendum on process grounds.

I want the referendum to be successful and I believe a ‘yes’ vote is now more likely because of Julian’s conviction.

Leeser backs Dutton despite quitting frontbench

Julian Leeser confirms that despite his resignation as shadow attorney general and shadow minister for Indigenous affairs, he remains in the Liberal party on the backbench and in support of opposition leader Peter Dutton:

I am a loyal member of the Liberal party. I’m proud to be the Liberal member for Berowra. I’m not going anywhere in terms of my support for the Liberal party.

Everybody has to make their own decision about these matters and that’s what I’m doing today.

My final goal for this term is to work for the election of a Coalition government under the leadership of Peter Dutton. In Peter Dutton we have the most experienced and tested opposition leader in our history.