Indigenous leader Noel Pearson says he regrets the fact Tony Abbott's prime ministership was cut short.
Mr Abbott took the indigenous portfolio into his own department after winning the 2013 election and delivered on a pledge to spend a week each year governing from a remote community.
However, his term was cut short in September 2015 when Malcolm Turnbull ousted him.
Mr Pearson told the National Press Club on Wednesday Mr Abbott had been his "closest friend" in political circles and one of the few people on his mobile phone speed dial.
"It was cut short," Mr Pearson said of his friend's tenure.
"I think there's been few people more genuinely signed up to our cause than him. I regret his passing."
Mr Pearson said Mr Abbott had struggled over two years to come to terms with the size of the challenge in improving living standards for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
But the former prime minister got the ball rolling on recognising indigenous people in the constitution.
"It was essential that a conservative start the kick-off ... Nixon had to go to China and a conservative had to kick this ball along the road."
It was now important that Mr Turnbull used his experience to facilitate the referendum.
Mr Pearson said he was disappointed the Abbott government had "inadequately" responded to a reform proposal put to it a year ago.
Mr Abbott has declared he will recontest his Sydney seat of Warringah at the next election.
Mr Pearson said he believed Mr Turnbull had received advice on how he might continue the "tradition" of working out of a remote indigenous community once a year.
Mr Pearson later refused to be drawn on whether Mr Abbott should be given the indigenous affairs portfolio.
"It's not for me to say whether it should happen or not," he told AAP, noting his friend's passion for indigenous Australia.
"He's seen more of indigenous communities than most politicians have."
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