Federal and state Nationals MPs have broken ranks with party colleagues to support an Indigenous voice to parliament.
West Australian Nationals leader Mia Davies on Tuesday criticised her federal counterparts for declaring they will oppose an Indigenous voice, which will be put to a national vote in the next financial year.
Federal Nationals frontbencher Andrew Gee, who was not present at this week's party room meeting in Canberra, said he had been a long-time supporter of a constitutionally enshrined voice, and had not changed his position on the issue.
Ms Davies says her party will support the voice proposal put forward by the Albanese government and she was caught unaware by David Littleproud announcing the federal Nationals' position.
Mr Littleproud has said the voice would not deliver practical outcomes to close the gap for First Nations people.
Ms Davies said the voice could be achieved alongside practical outcomes.
Mr Gee told supporters on his Facebook page: "While I respect the opinions of my colleagues, I'm still a supporter."
"So yes, there is still a heck of a lot of hard work to do. To achieve a voice we'll need that as well as goodwill, open minds and generosity of spirit.
"Reconciliation in Australia has made significant progress in recent years but there is still a long way for us all to travel.
"Let's keep working at it and walking down that road. Together we can do it."
Mr Gee called on the Albanese government to release more detail on what the advisory body would look like.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reaffirmed support for a voice, saying it would deliver practical outcomes.
He said the voice would be more than just symbolism.
"Our experience shows that when people who are directly affected are consulted and have a sense of ownership over the solution, they will be more engaged," he told an Indigenous basketball event in Canberra on Tuesday.
Indigenous coalition senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said it wasn't a difficult decision for the Nationals to reach a "no" position on the voice.
"Basically taking an idea to a referendum with no detail and then allowing for the parliamentary process to fill in the detail, I don't think is a safe enough option," she told 2GB.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton told a joint coalition party room meeting the Liberals respected the decision taken by the Nationals, but the Liberals were yet to come to an agreement on their stance.
"There will be a discussion in the Liberal party room and coalition party room in due course, but we're not there yet," he told MPs.
"Right now, the pressure needs to be on the prime minister to answer the most basic questions about the Indigenous voice to parliament ... we want more information, just like the rest of the country, before we can form a position."
Indigenous activist Noel Pearson said he was surprised the Nationals would stand against the voice.
"I've spoken to almost every Nationals senator and MP over recent years, and of all the political parties, the Nationals were the most supportive of the idea of the voice," he told ABC Radio.
"This leader, supposed leader Littleproud ... he's like a kindergarten kid, not a leader. The Nationals have hoisted the mantle of leadership on a boy who's incapable of leadership that's necessary for the country."
