Big business says its support of a First Nations Voice to Parliament extends to providing corporate opportunities for Indigenous organsations.

The Business Council of Australia, whose members include BHP, the Commonwealth Bank, Qantas and Woodside, on Thursday joined a chorus of community, religious and sporting organisations proclaiming their support.

The council also released data that showed member companies spent more than $1 billion on Indigenous-owned businesses each year.

"We believe the Voice is the right mechanism to give Indigenous Australians a stronger say on legislation, policy and programs that directly impact their communities and their lives,'' Business Council chief executive Jennifer Westacott said.

"We know that we get better results when we listen.

"We are releasing this statement alongside the BCA's Indigenous economic statement, which demonstrates the practical and on-the-ground actions that businesses are taking to further Indigenous economic advancement."

Ms Westacott said BCA members employed more than 20,000 First Nations Australians across a range of industries and spent just over $1 billion with Indigenous businesses each year.

"Our members are proactively helping to drive economic and cultural empowerment by supporting Indigenous businesses to expand, innovate, hire more workers and create vibrant ecosystems in their communities," she said.

"One of the best ways this can be achieved is when large businesses work with Indigenous businesses to grow supply chains.

"BCA members are achieving this through our Raising the Bar initiative aimed at increasing procurement spending with Indigenous businesses and suppliers.

"We are pleased that 43 members have joined the program for the 2023-24 financial year, a more than doubling of the original program.

"Statements of support only go so far, and we know there is so much more work to do to create greater economic opportunities for Indigenous Australians and businesses across the entire economy.

"The BCA is strongly committed to the empowerment of Indigenous Australians and the creation of opportunities for full participation in the Australian economy.

"This is why the BCA supports recognition of Indigenous Australians in Australia's Constitution and a Voice to Parliament because all Australians should have the opportunity to fully participate in the fabric of Australian society.

"The Voice will help amplify the views of Indigenous communities, ensuring they are heard."

The strong stance from business lobby group came as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was asked whether the Commonwealth would negotiate a treaty with Indigenous people should the voice to parliament referendum succeed.

On Wednesday he ruled out the federal government starting the treaty process in this term of parliament if the vote is passed.

Indigenous Australians Assistant Minister Malarndirri McCarthy said opponents of the voice were trying to distract from its key purpose.

"It's actually about First Nations people across the country who actually don't have a voice and would like to be able to influence policy that impacts their lives," she told Nine's Today show on Thursday.

"We have to stay focused on that."

Keeping the debate away from political lines is also a key objective for the high-powered Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition board.

The board's make-up reflects a desire for constitutional recognition not to become a left or right issue, with members eager to keep the debate from being mired in party allegiances.

The AIRC board includes co-chair Danny Gilbert, a Business Council of Australia director, Wesfarmers chair Michael Chaney (whose father and uncle were Liberal federal ministers), BHP director Catherine Tanna, Indigenous advocate Noel Pearson, former Liberal Party adviser and powerbroker Mark Textor, Reconciliation Australia chief executive Karen Mundine and Tanya Hosch, the AFL's general manager of inclusion and social policy.

Other large corporations such as ANZ, BHP, Rio Tinto and Coles have already announced their support for the Yes campaign, despite the Liberal Party's division over constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians.

A vote proposing constitutional recognition of First Nations people and enshrining a voice will be held between October and December this year.