Anthony Albanese says there is a "new national awareness" of the need to Close the Gap in response to a question regarding a joint statement from Indigenous leaders labelling landslide rejection of a Voice to Parliament "a shameful victory" for the no camp.
The statement came after a week of silence following the result of October 14's referendum which was observed by a large number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander bodies and organisations.
The weekend's follow-up was circulated online and to the media without a list of signatories.
Asked if he agreed 'only the shameless could say there's no shame in the referendum outcome', Mr Albanese, who is addressed among "every Member of the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Commonwealth Parliament" at the top of the statement, told reporters on Sunday nothing official had come across his desk.
"To be clear, nothing has been released by Indigenous leaders," the Prime Minister said.
"I made my comments last Saturday night. I stand by them. I accept the result of the referendum. I think overwhelmingly, Australians do want to see the gap closed between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
"When it comes to moving forward, I think it's up to all of us to come together and find a different way to get to the same reconciled destination. And I'm very optimistic that we can do this," he said.
Mr Albanese had said he would "respect" the public's decision in the process of ruling out a legislated Voice model in an interview a week out from the referendum.
On the night of the referendum's result, he said "the real division is one of disadvantage".
"The division that is the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in life expectancy in educational opportunity in rates of suicide and disease," he said.
"The gap which separates Indigenous Australians from the right to make a good life for themselves.
"I supported recognition through a Voice because this was the vehicle that Indigenous Australians believe could change this.
"This was the change that they asked for at the First Nations constitutional convention at Uluru in 2017…It's now up to all of us to come together and find a different way to the same reconciled destination."
The Prime Minister reiterated this point on Sunday, including reference to education health, housing and justice issues, declaring "There is a new national awareness of the need to Close the Gap".
He also pointed to a $214 million committed to Closing the Gap within the multi-billion dollar National Skills Agreement to the country's vocational education and training system as a means of addressing employment.
On October 16, Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney told NITV "important" consultation with First Peoples would take place.
"The government is committed more than ever, with the determination that is fierce to particularly the disadvantage being experienced by our people, and the Closing the Gap targets," she said.
Ms Burney vowed to address education concerns in the NT and on Sunday, said "we are getting on with the job of delivering for Indigenous Australians" following the latest competitions of housing under the $100 million NT Homelands Package.
Member for Lingiari - which covers the majority of the Territory, Marion Scrymgour said housing on Aboriginal homelands is a top priority.
