Close to six months on since the Turnbull government rejected Aboriginal leaders' calls for a constitutionally enshrined indigenous voice in parliament, a new parliamentary inquiry is beginning another round of national soul-searching.
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The committee, headed up by Labor senator Pat Dodson and Liberal MP Julian Leeser will undertake hearings in indigenous communities and major cities over coming months.
It is set to report back to parliament with an interim report in late July and final recommendations in November.
Mr Leeser acknowledged substantial work has already been done in this space over the years and the inquiry will be drawing on it.
The inquiry will be looking to make detailed recommendations, gauge cross-party agreement, as well as indigenous peoples' support, he said.
Mr Leeser, who is personally supportive of the concept of an indigenous voice, said the committee is able to look at other models.
"We have a parliament that's filled with lawyers but we still have an Australia Law Reform Commission for instance," he told Sky News on Sunday.
"I'm hoping we'll get lots of indigenous people and non-indigenous people engaging in design of how we can better consult and engage indigenous people."
Australian Associated Press
