Anthony Albanese said on Sunday his government was "talking through" what the nature of a Makarrata process might look like - a word he said meant coming together after a struggle.
"There is more we need to do," he said.
Anthony Albanese says it's important for Australians to walk together in efforts to close the gap. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)
"We remain absolutely committed to advancing the interests of Indigenous Australians, and the theme of the Garma Festival this year was fire, strength and renewal.
"The idea that out of a fire comes the opportunity, when rains come, for rebirth and renewal."
Mr Albanese stood firm in the face of accusations his government had abandoned its commitments to truth-telling and treaty processes after he addressed the Garma Festival in the Northern Territory on Saturday.
Mr Albanese said the federal government had not progressed a path to treaty before the October referendum on whether to enshrine an Indigenous voice in the constitution - and that had not changed.
Instead, treaty processes were taking place through states and territories.
He said it was important for Australians to "walk together" in efforts to close the gap between First Nations people and non-Indigenous Australians.
"Australia, as a nation, will benefit from being more united, more reconciled with our history, and that's important for all of us, but it's also important for how Australia is seen in the region and the world," he said.
The 2017 Uluru statement called for an Indigenous voice and a Makarrata Commission. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)
Earlier, former voice referendum Yes23 campaign manager Dean Parkin said the government should not backslide on its commitments to truth-telling and treaty.
"We're talking about a thing that would oversee, as the Uluru Statement says, the process of agreement-making between First Nations and truth-telling about our history," Mr Parkin said on Saturday during a panel at Garma, Australia's largest Indigenous cultural festival.
"If we start talking about it as a concept it gets left open to whatever it may be."
The Greens accused the government of "all but abandoning" the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
The 2017 Uluru statement called for a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous voice and a Makarrata Commission, which would work towards a treaty and truth-telling.
"It's clear the prime minister is walking away from truth and treaty," Senator Dorinda Cox said on Saturday.
"Despite Labor previously committing to implement the Uluru statement in full, today Anthony Albanese treated it like the elephant in the room, saying let's leave it to the states and territories," she said.
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