Prime Minister Tony Abbott has reversed his opposition to Indigenous-only meetings on constitutional recognition.
Mr Abbott met with Indigenous leaders in Canberra on Thursday, agreeing to hold the consultations on how to change the nation's founding document to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
He told reporters before the meeting that he wanted to have a "unifying and unified process", denying it was an "about face".
Prime Minister Tony Abbott on meeting to discuss Indigenous-on..."Why the about face?" NITV News' Myles Morgan puts the question to Tony Abbott. The PM will meet with Pat Dodson, Noel Pearson, Kirstie Parker and Megan Davis to speak about Indigenous-only summits in the lead up to the recognition referendum. Stay with NITV for all the details - http://bit.ly/1E5kkr9 Posted by NITV on Wednesday, 19 August 2015
"What we want to do is to have a unified process which certainly will involve indigenous people talking," he said.
"It will involve the wider community talking and what I want to see is not some kind of ‘them and us’ process, but a ‘we the people’ process.
"Obviously, it's important for Indigenous people to have a chance to talk this through as thoroughly as possible."
Indigenous leader Noel Pearson - who met with Mr Abbott alongside Patrick Dodson, Kirstie Parker and Megan Davis - told reporters the "show was back on the rails" after the prime minister changed his mind.
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"Over the next 12 months, there will be a referendum council oversighting the process of national consultation, which will include the program of Indigenous consultations that we originally proposed," he said.
"There will be parallel mainstream conferences and so on with the wider Australian community."
There are a number of options on the best model for change, including a statement recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the first Australians.
It could also include the removal of potentially racist clauses in the document, as well as including additional protections against race discrimination.
Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues Rachel Siewert said the meeting had resulted in "the right decision".
"For a referendum on Constitutional Recognition to be successful it must have the support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples," Senator Siewert said.
"This is why these conferences are imperative."
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