At least three senior Liberals pushed back against Indigenous voice opposition in shadow cabinet meeting

Guardian Australia understands the meeting considered an alternative stance put forward by the shadow attorney general, Julian Leeser, to allow all members a free say on the voice at least until a parliamentary committee could consider calls to amend the constitutional alteration bill.

Birmingham, the shadow foreign affairs minister, Fletcher, the manager of opposition business and Payne, the cabinet secretary, favoured the alternative option but are now bound to the collective cabinet position. Only backbenchers will be free to campaign in favour of the voice.

The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, favoured opposition to constitutional recognition and this was carried in a meeting attended only by Liberals and not Nationals, who in November resolved to oppose the voice.

The issue was then discussed in a Liberal party room meeting, at which Bridget Archer, Andrew Bragg, Russell Broadbent and reportedly Richard Colbeck spoke against opposing the voice.

Guardian Australia contacted Birmingham, Fletcher and Payne for comment.