There are few areas of politics where agreement is convention.
Ending indigenous disadvantage is one and the annual Closing the Gap address is usually a chance to reach across the chamber and pledge to work together.
So when Opposition Leader Bill Shorten used a speech to criticise government cuts to the indigenous affairs budget, it infuriated some Liberals so much they walked out.
About 10 MPs, including Andrew Nikolic, took umbrage when Mr Shorten accused the government of contributing to shelter closures and robbing indigenous people of legal aid.
"I went 'you're joking', and I stood up and walked out," Mr Nikolic told AAP.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott described the seventh Closing the Gap report as "profoundly disappointing".
The progress report card shows most of the targets have not been met.
There has been no improvement in the life expectancy gap, literacy, numeracy and employment.
Gap targets in child mortality and Year 12 attainment are still achievable.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion admitted there was no point dressing-up the figures.
"We have a long road ahead if we are to close the gap in indigenous disadvantage."
Mr Shorten wasn't alone in using the annual report to question the government's indigenous policies.
Warren Mundine, the prime minister's top indigenous adviser, put his boss on notice, telling him he better front up with a good budget in May or face a "frank fight".
"There's not one Australian that can tell me we're running an efficient system when we're getting those kind of results," he said.
Mr Mundine can't understand the need for a Medicare co-payment, a concern echoed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda.
"We should be making it easier for our people to access medical services," he told AAP.
"Any cost that's borne by the most disadvantaged is going to have a terrible effect."
As chair of the Close the Gap campaign, Mr Gooda wants to see a greater focus on health, specifically primary services to prevent chronic disease.
"If people aren't healthy, they can't go to school. If people aren't healthy, they can't take jobs," he said.
Mr Abbott reaffirmed his commitment to the government's three main priorities - education, employment and safer communities - but flagged a new focus on the "healthy welfare card".
Mr Mundine wants to see the card applied to everyone on welfare, as recommended in the Forrest employment review last year.
Labor is concerned about $500 million in funding cuts, part of the government's plan to scrap ineffective programs.
Mr Abbott opened his Closing the Gap address to parliament by highlighting the need for bipartisanship.
"None of us should seek to score a point or defend a legacy here," he said.
NOT ON TRACK OR FAILED
* Closing the life expectancy gap by 2031. Indigenous male life expectancy is 69.1 years, 10.6 years behind non-indigenous. Females die at 73.7, a gap of 9.5 years.
* Halving the gap in child reading, writing and numeracy by 2018.
* Halving the gap in employment by 2018. Currently, 47.5 per cent of indigenous are in work, a gap of 28.1 per cent.
* Failed to achieve 95 per cent enrolment in early childhood education in remote communities, having reached 85 per cent.
ON TRACK
* Halving the mortality rate gap for children under five by 2018. Gap has narrowed 35 per cent since 1998.
* Halving the gap for Year 12 attainment for 20 to 24 year olds by 2020.
