Ministers responsible for Indigenous Affairs from all states and territories have agreed to work collectively to deliver an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament and enshrine that Voice in the Constitution.
The in-principle agreement was reached at a meeting in Hobart attended by all state and territory Indigenous Affairs ministers, headed by Federal Minister Linda Burney.
Ms Burney said there was unanimous support amongst the ministers for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
"We as ministers across the country endorse in-principle the Voice and will work collaboratively at a state and territory and at Commonwealth level to make the Voice a reality," Ms Burney said.
In addition to principles of transparency, accountability, and that the Voice will be representative and not usurp any existing organisations, Ms Burney said it was agreed that the Voice will include First Nations peoples advising government and truth-telling though constitutional recognition and reform.
"Most importantly, it will provide advice to the federal government that will improve the lives of First Nations people in this country," Ms Burney said.
"It will mean that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will have better outcomes.
"And importantly it will fix our Constitution, our founding document as people living in this country, of telling the truth, of reflecting that there is an incredible history."
Hosting Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Tasmania's Roger Jaensch, said the meeting was a productive chance for each minister to share their state or territory's progress.
"It was an excellent opportunity to hear from my State and Territory colleagues about the work being done in their jurisdictions, as well having the chance to discuss the progress being made here in Tasmania," Minister Jaensch said.
The Tasmanian government recently announced its first Aboriginal Advisory group, a six-member panel tasked with advising the government on the state's pathway to Truth-telling and Treaty.
At the meeting Minister Burney detailed the federal government's recent announcement of $334 million in support of early years and education programs for First Nations children and students nationwide, an announcement welcomed by Minister Jaensch.
"Minister Burney's announcement of the funding for young Tasmanian Aboriginal people and increasing their opportunities to get a good start in life is very, very welcome today," Minister Jaensch said.
"We know that for Aboriginal people in Tasmania and in Australia, the statistics tell us that they are statistically less likely to have as strong opportunities or outcomes as the other people in their broader community, and the investment that's been made today supports closing that gap."
Minister Jaensch said a commitment had been made to direct funding towards Aborignal community controlled organisations where possible to ensure culturally appropriate service delivery.
"In the majority of cases these projects that are being announced today are going to Aboriginal community controlled organisations delivering those services in their own communities to their own people the way they know best to do," Minister Jaensch said.
"We really appreciate that investment and that vote of confidence in those organisations.
"We welcome the discussions here today on a broad range of topics (and) we are eagerly watching the concept and model of Voice unfold."
Attending ministers agreed to meet again in the New Year.
