Newly elected senator Jacinta Price is urging the federal Labor government to focus on practical solutions to address the systemic disadvantage faced by First Nations people, as dialogue focuses on the Voice to Parliament following Anthony Albanese's election victory.
Speaking on NITV's The Point, the Country Liberal Party representative said she will be working with her colleagues, including newly announced shadow minister for Indigenous Australians Julian Leeser, about what priorities the Coalition should push throughout their term in opposition.
"There'll be lots of conversations that I'll be having with Julian," she said.
"As well as my other coalition colleagues to discuss the Uluru Statement and other certainly more pressing issues when it comes to Indigenous Australians."
The federal government has promised to hold a referendum in its first term of government to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, but Ms Price said she believes other issues such as housing, women's safety and economic development should be a higher priority.
"I don't think that our constitution needs such an amendment that certainly divides us along the line of race. There's certainly other ways that we can move forward," she said.
Mr Leeser, who was announced as she shadow in recent days, has been an outspoken supporter of the Uluru Statement.
Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney has pledged to hold a referendum to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Source: AAP
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reflected this point when he was asked about Mr Leeser's appointment on Wednesday morning.
"I take the appointment of Julian Leeser as a very positive sign," Mr Albanese said.
"I am up for embracing as many people as possible but I am absolutely committed to advancing this ... It is now time for this to occur."
While some commentators, including Newscorp columnist Andrew Bolt, have claimed Ms Price should have been named ahead of Leeser in Peter Dutton's shadow cabinet, she said the time was not right.
"I wasn't expecting a role given I've just come into parliament ... I'm looking forward to learning more about the job, getting good at the job and who knows what might happen later on down the track in the future," she said.
Mr Leeser, a NSW MP has backed an enshrined Indigenous Voice to Parliament — contrary to some in his party ranks including Ms Price who said an Indigenous voice could be divisive.
