George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

The development of treaties or agreements and constitutional recognition are not incompatible processes. Both can be steps towards recognising Indigenous peoples and towards recognition. As you know, and as you observe in your supplementary question, the Uluru convention did propose a makarrata commission to facilitate agreement making between governments and first-nations people. But this is a proposal that obviously has very, very serious implications that need to be thought through very carefully. The government is aware of the work that's happening in some states and territories on this issue as well, and we are considering the matter, as I said in answer to your principal question. It is important that we get this right, and getting it right and progressing to a successful and unifying conclusion does mean carefully considering the report and bringing as many people as possible with us.