Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

An Indigenous advisory body that's established by the Constitution and which provides non-binding advice to parliament about Indigenous affairs is the best way of addressing the need for practical guarantees that policymaking will be done better in future, without undermining the fundamental structure of the Constitution. That's my view, and it's also the view of the shadow minister, because they're his words. It cannot veto parliament. Rather, it provides greater input into the policymaking process, which should lead to policy improvements and greater buy-in from Indigenous people across Australia, which is also a very important point going forward. That is also the member for Berowra.

I do want to say something on the opposition's tactics. We know that Noel Pearson had something important to say as well. Noel Pearson, I would hope, is someone that's respected by everyone in this chamber. I've heard him quoted by people right across the parliament in the past. What he said was this:

Now is the time for us to act as Australians. Not as Labor people, not as Greens, not as Liberal or National party people … not as indigenous and non-Indigenous people, but as Australians.

Because what we are trying to achieve here is unity. We want inclusion. This will do it.

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