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Former Indigenous affairs minister Ken Wyatt, the first Indigenous person to hold the portfolio, has resigned from the Liberal Party over its decision to oppose the Voice to parliament.
Wyatt, a Yamatji man, served as the minister for Indigenous Australians under the Morrison government from 2019 to 2022, but lost his Western Australian seat of Hasluck at last year's federal election.
"I still believe in the Liberal Party values but I don't believe in what the Liberals have become," Wyatt told the West Australian today.
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"Aboriginal people are reaching out to be heard but the Liberals have rejected their invitation."
In a statement this afternoon, a WA Liberal Party spokesperson said "we wish Mr Wyatt well for the future".
During his time in cabinet, Wyatt advocated for the referendum to be pushed forward and has since joined the government's Voice working group.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was asked yesterday about the former minister being "deeply disappointed" about the Liberal stance.
"I have the greatest respect for Ken Wyatt," Dutton said.
"I've listened to his voice. I've listened to (South Australian Liberal senator) Kerrynne Liddle, I've listened to many Indigenous leaders for whom I have a great deal of respect.
"They have a contrary view to Ken's view, and we live in a democracy where we can consider the views of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians."
READ MORE: PM hopeful of Voice to parliament despite Liberals' opposition
9news.com.au has requested a comment from Dutton's office today.
Last month, Wyatt encouraged Dutton and the Liberals to allow a conscience vote ahead of the referendum, warning that opposing the Voice could add to perceptions the party is racist.
"One of the questions I got asked frequently, and the first was the BBC when I was first elected… 'What's it like belonging as a member of the Australian parliament in the most racist country?'" he told the Guardian after the referendum wording was announced.
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"And I always defused that. And then the second question they hit me with is: 'How do you cope working in a racist party like yours?'.
"That's a global perspective. It's not my perspective; it's a global perspective.
"So there is a perception about our party, which I am sad about, because the Liberal Party is a good party, and there are a lot of good people within the Liberal Party."
Wyatt's resignation comes after current Liberal MP Bridget Archer said she considered quitting the party over its Voice stance.
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