A parliamentary committee will soon be established to investigate recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the constitution.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the committee, which has the backing of the federal opposition, will bring together the earlier work of the Referendum Council and other expert panels.
"We can now progress this important matter," Mr Turnbull told parliament on Monday.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the committee should focus on establishing a constitutionally enshrined indigenous voice to parliament, which was rejected by the Turnbull cabinet last year.
"In this place we don't get to choose what the people tell us, in this place we listen to what the people want us and we implement their choice," Mr Shorten told parliament.
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Mr Shorten pledged to legislate an indigenous voice to parliament if there wasn't a bipartisan commitment to hold a referendum.
"I say to the prime minister and the government - we will work with you, but we will not wait for you," he said.
