Aboriginal Elder and senior Australian government figure Pat Dodson announced on Thursday he would take a leave of absence from his duties while undergoing medical treatment.
Senator Dodson, the government's Special Envoy for Reconciliation and Implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and senator for Western Australia, is taking a number of months off.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government, "along with all Australians", gave Senator Dodson its "best wishes for strength in the battle ahead" and said every member was privileged to have the Father of Reconciliation as a colleague.
He described Senator Dodson as a "powerful source of wisdom and inspiration".
A statement released by the Special Envoy's office said Senator Dodson was mindful that during this time he had a big workload planned in his role and he regrets that his work commitments, in particular travel, "will now be limited".
The statement also said the Senator thanked all who have wished him well and asked that his privacy be respected.
Earlier on Thursday the Special Envoy spoke with the ABC about the Liberal Party's decision to oppose the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.
"I'm saddened by the fact that the Coalition members of parliament have elected to play politics about this, rather than respond in a more constructive way, as Bridget Archer has, and some of the others have responded," he said.
