Archer defies own party, 'child sex abuse exists everywhere'

Ms Archer crossed the floor and voted with the government on Thursday against the motion, which was moved in the House of Representatives by her own party leader Peter Dutton.

The Bass MP took to social media to explain that while she may support a Royal Commission into child sexual abuse, she did not support singling out Indigenous communities for investigation.

"I do not support a Royal Commission that is seeking to only do so in Indigenous communities, without taking into account that child sex abuse exists everywhere," she wrote on her Facebook page.

"As a survivor of child sex abuse, I have consistently stood up and advocated for change and for more resources to be allocated to address the many-layered and complex challenges that sit around the issues of child sex abuse and violence against women and children."

Her own party leader, Peter Dutton, immediately attacked her position in a radio interview.

"On this issue, I don't understand why she has crossed the floor, I think it's a very significant issue for our country, I think she's made a mistake," he said.

"It's the wrong decision, and most importantly from my perspective, it takes away from the Prime Minister's culpability here."

In the same interview, he was asked whether he would expel her from the Liberal Party.

He said that was a matter that he would discuss with Ms Archer privately.

Coalition Indigenous Affairs spokesperson Senator Jacinta Price said she was "horrified" that her motion seeking the Royal Commission had failed.

Ms Archer, who is a member of the Liberal Party's more moderate wing, has often defied the wishes of her more conservative party leader.

Most recently, she raised conservative hackles by campaigning heavily for the 'Yes' side of the referendum that most Liberals vehemently opposed.

Earlier this year, former state and federal Liberal advisor Brad Stansfield said a number of party members were seeking to dump Ms Archer before the next federal election.