Former Liberal minister hits out at Dutton voice claims

A former Liberal minister has hit out at opposition claims the Indigenous voice to parliament and executive government would be an elitist body.

Ken Wyatt, the first Indigenous person to be Indigenous Australians minister, said the voice would not be a "Canberra voice" but a grassroots body

Mr Wyatt resigned from the Liberals last week after the party opted to oppose the Indigenous voice to parliament and executive government at the upcoming referendum.

"It was a hard decision, I had to weigh up my love of the Liberal Party and its values and what it stands for against a stubborn position of not wanting to give Aboriginal people a seat at the table," he told the ABC's 7.30 program.

"It is about local community designing their regional voice and then the regional voice selecting people they want to represent them in Canberra. It's not a Canberra voice. It is not elite. It is people from the grassroots."

Mr Wyatt said the voice being able to advise executive government was critical in having consultation on Indigenous issues before legislation was finalised and presented to parliament.

"This is not a detrimental process. It allows them to sit and put their position to government," he said.

"It's too late after a party room, it's too late after it's been tabled in parliament."

While the Liberals support constitutional recognition of Indigenous people, it does not support a constitutionally enshrined national voice, along with the body being able to advise the executive government.

Mr Wyatt's comments follow senior Liberal Julian Leeser resigning from the shadow cabinet due the position.

Mr Leeser, who was the party's Indigenous affairs spokesman, said he would campaign for the 'yes' vote, with Liberal backbenchers not bound by the official party position.

"I believe the voice can help move the dial on Indigenous education, health, housing, safety and economic development," he said when announcing the resignation on Tuesday.

"I believe better policy is made when the people affected by it are consulted."

Uluru Dialogue representative Roy Ah-See said the voice was above partisan politics.

"(The Uluru Statement) was issued to the Australian people because the conversation is between our people and the Australian people and should not be mediated via the Canberra bubble," he said.

"Julian Leeser's resignation speaks to the spirit of Uluru - the people not the politicians - and his unequivocal support for a 'yes' vote in the 2023 referendum is welcome as we walk in a movement of the Australian people for a better future."

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said Mr Leeser's decision should pave the way for NT senator Jacinta Price to be made the next Liberal Indigenous spokesperson.

"With Peter Dutton recently joining the 'no' campaign, the time is right to elevate this talented woman of conviction to lead Liberal indigenous policy," she said.