Littleproud said he was disappointed by Gee’s decision but accepted his departure, adding that his colleague had always been free to vote his way on the floor.
“While Federal Nationals remain united in our decision to oppose The Voice in Parliament, I have said from the start that one of the great things about our Party Room is the ability to have different views and speak and vote freely on issues important to individual members and nothing has changed,” Littleproud said in a statement.
Gee’s decision to leave the Nationals will mean Littleproud and opposition leader Peter Dutton will have to make minor changes to their forward team.
The Nationals announced at a heated press conference in November that they would formally oppose the vote in parliament, which will be put to a referendum in the second half of 2023, but within 24 hours the party had split over the issue.
Nationals leader David Littleproud and Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price announced the party’s position on The Voice on 28 November. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
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Gee broke ranks within 24 hours to voice his support, the Western Australian state branch voiced support and former federal leader Michael McCormack said the party could reverse its position in the year coming, depending on the details of the proposal.
Gee served in the NSW state parliament for five years before moving into federal politics in 2016. He was minister for veterans affairs and defense staff in the Morrison government.
Albanese described Gee’s resignation as an “extraordinary political development” that left the federal opposition with one less vote in parliament.
“We will work with Andrew Gee as an independent as we work with MPs … and I want to work with all members of parliament to promote the voice,” Albanese told a news conference in Sydney.
“Andrew Gee’s statement is one of principle. I look forward to working with him and I hope that members of the Liberal Party, members of the mainstream who want to recognize, see this as an opportunity to bring our nation together. This is the which should be
“I am pleased that Andrew Gee is campaigning for a yes vote, but I also say to other members of parliament: don’t miss your chance to be part of enriching our nation and making us even stronger in the future.”
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In his statement, Gee said he had grown up handing out how-to-vote cards for the National Party “and I’ve given it some of the best years of my working life. I was once a true believer, but I’m not anymore.”
“Today’s National Party is very different from that of my youth. I think I can better represent the voters of Calare and our region by talking about the issues, free from the limitations and expectations of the party.”