The Northern Territory has joined Victoria in taking steps toward signing a treaty with Aboriginal people during a landmark week for negotiations.
The Territory's Barunga agreement, signed on Friday, commits the government and four Aboriginal land councils to three years of consultations for the development of a treaty process.
NT chief minister Michael Gunner said the memorandum signalled the beginning of a new course for the Territory.
"The MoU we have signed today commits us to a new path of lasting reconciliation that will heal the past and allow for a cooperative, unified future for all," he said.
The government will appoint an independent Treaty Commissioner - an Aboriginal person - to lead consultations with Aboriginal people and organisations across the Territory.
The MoU acknowledges there has been "deep injustice done to Aboriginal people", resulting in a "legacy of trauma and loss that needs to be addressed and healed".
It was signed on the first day of the Barunga Sport and Cultural Festival, where, 30 years ago, Prime Minister Bob Hawke promised a treaty between the Commonwealth and Australia's indigenous people.
The 1988 Barunga statement called for Aboriginal self-management, a national system of land rights and compensation for loss of land, but a treaty was never achieved.
Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, speaking at the festival, said governments and people had since lost sight of its objectives.
"Too many words from the Barunga Statement of 30 years ago have not become reality," Mr Shorten said.
He said indigenous senator Pat Dodson had told him "people out here cannot understand why you white fellas haven't got the message after 30 years".
Earlier in the week, the Victorian government made progress of its own after the lower house passed legislation to create the framework for a treaty process.
The bill, which passed with the support of the Greens, marked the first time an Australian parliament had considered legislation committing to treaty negotiations.
In Western Australia, Aboriginal Affairs minister Ben Wyatt announced on Friday a consultation process for the establishment of the Independent Office for Aboriginal People.
Similar to the Uluru Statement's federal model rejected by the Turnbull government, the office would report directly to parliament and advocate on issues and legislation important to indigenous communities.
"There is actually a need to ... focus on empowering Aboriginal people to have an influence on government policy, so the policy can respond in a positive way to solve intractable issues," Mr Wyatt told 6PR radio.
