A minister in line for promotion under Scott Morrison believes there is a community support for constitutional recognition of indigenous Australians and pursuing a voice to parliament.
Aged care minister Ken Wyatt, who is tipped to take on the indigenous affairs portfolio, says he speaks with the prime minister often about advancing the two causes.
"I think as a nation we are moving that way," he told Sky News on Tuesday.
"I remain optimistic and it's something that I don't take out of my consideration."
The federal budget set aside $7.3 million to develop a model for the indigenous voice, which the government plans to put to Australian voters in a national referendum.
"That's an ongoing discussion that I've had with the prime minister," Mr Wyatt said.
"Hence the budget line that he has approved for ongoing dialogue based on the report of (Liberal MP) Julian Leeser and (Labor) senator Pat Dodson."
Late last year, Mr Morrison rejected an indigenous voice to parliament, claiming it would be nothing more than a "third chamber" of power.
However, a bipartisan committee chaired by Mr Leeser and Senator Dodson later urged the government to kick-start a co-design process with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The prime minister has said the indigenous voice - which was recommended by about 300 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders at Uluru in 2017, but has stalled ever since - is an important issue.
But Mr Morrison has consistently argued he is more focused on ending youth suicides in remote indigenous communities.
Mr Wyatt, an Aboriginal man from Western Australia, believes the community will back constitutional recognition of First Nations people.
"There is an appetite by Australians for recognition of some form within the constitution," he said.
"But more importantly, a structure that would provide an avenue to have dialogue with governments at all levels."
