Vic Nats to oppose voice if model unknown

The Victorian Nationals won't support an Indigenous voice to federal parliament unless an exact model is put to the vote of Australians.

The regional party's federal branch announced this week it would oppose the Albanese government's voice proposal when it goes to a referendum as early as next year.

Federal Nationals leader David Littleproud said the voice would not deliver practical outcomes for First Nations Australians, with Indigenous coalition senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price arguing the idea lacked detail.

Despite former Indigenous Australians minister Ken Wyatt declaring he took two reports to cabinet on what the voice would look like, Victorian Nationals leader Peter Walsh said further detail is needed.

"Unless we can get real information, we can't support it," the state's shadow Indigenous affairs minister told reporters at state parliament on Wednesday.

"To say there is going to be a referendum and a parliamentary committee will then design what that referendum actually achieves is back to front."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese plans to use simple wording for the referendum, asking Australians if they support changing the constitution to establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice to parliament.

It would then be up to federal parliamentarians to determine a model, if the referendum is successful.

Mr Walsh said the Victorian Nationals would not support the referendum if a model wasn't finalised beforehand.

West Australian Nationals leader Mia Davies has criticised her federal colleagues over their opposition to the voice but Mr Walsh is similarly quizzical of its ability to deliver outcomes.

"I think it's actually treating Australians and Indigenous Australians with disrespect to say vote for this and trust us to design it afterwards," he said.

"They need to know how it is actually going to bridge the gap. How it is actually going to solve disadvantage in the community and none of that's available. 

"It seems to be Canberra talking to itself, not necessarily solving the issues of disadvantage in rural and regional communities."

The Victorian Liberal-Nationals supported the state's treaty legislation, but Mr Walsh insists the two issues are not comparable despite both featuring in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

"Treaty is about a process to come to a conclusion, it isn't actually the conclusion," he said.