Scott Morrison's dismissal of the Uluru Statement from the Heart is "disheartening," according to the CEO of the peak Aboriginal Health Body.
Speaking to NITV's The Point, Pat Turner said a voice to Parliament would give Aboriginal people the right to practice self-determination.
"I think it's a national shame that the two major parties have barely said anything useful," she said.
"What Labor has said is it's committed to implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which is fine, and to hold a referendum.
"Apparently the polls are saying that a majority of Australians support a voice to Parliament, but getting that through a successful referendum is another story."
Ms Turner also highlighted the issue of Indigenous health, saying billions more needs to be spent to address the 'gap' in life expectancy between First Nations people and non-Indigenous populations.
A report, commissioned by NACCHO and released on Tuesday identified a $4.4 billion underspend in Indigenous health from state, territory and commonwealth governments.
"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and communities have always been underfunded," she said.
"It's like a patronising, paternalistic regime that thinks 'oh well, that's enough from them and they can get on with it'.
"Well, we do get on with it but we can't continue on unless we want to see the health gap widen even more... so what we will be telling all of the jurisdictions is stand up and be counted in terms of fulfilling your responsibilities."
For more on this story, tune into NITV’s current affairs program The Point at 7.30pm on Tuesday, or later on SBS and SBS On Demand.
