Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been put on the spot in front of a crowd of thousands over an election commitment made by the opposition leader.
Mr Turnbull and Bill Shorten took time out from the hustings on Saturday to take part in the Long Walk, named after AFL great Michael Long, to the MCG ahead of the Dream Time clash between Essendon and Richmond.
In a speech ahead of the walk, Long said it was time to get history right.
"Constitutional recognition must occur," he told thousands gathered in Melbourne's Federation Square.
"It's time for a treaty."
He then referred to the $10.7 million boost Mr Shorten pledged for his learning and leadership centre earlier this week.
He said he wanted to give Mr Turnbull the chance to reply.
Mr Turnbull approached the microphone, insisting that since the coalition was elected, there were 39,000 more indigenous people in full-time jobs.
He was talking up his government's $115 million commitment to support jobs and entrepreneurship for indigenous Australians when a heckler interjected.
"Answer the question, Malcolm."
Thousands turned out in rainy weather to walk alongside both leaders, pausing for an indigenous smoking ceremony along the way.
The walk commemorates Long's historic 2004 trek from Melbourne to Canberra to lobby Prime Minister John Howard for indigenous issues to be put on the national agenda.
Mr Shorten got in some dad time and was accompanied by his kids, Clementine and Rupert.
He gave his daughter a piggy back and bought the children biscuit snacks.
Mr Turnbull was joined by wife Lucy.
Mr Shorten got a rousing applause after declaring this was and always will be Aboriginal land.
He said Australia had "unfinished business" until there was equal treatment of Aboriginal people and insisted he would dedicate himself to the cause.
He later received a yellow Tigers scarf with an Aboriginal dot painting print that his daughter instantly claimed.
Andrew Hughes, a Tigers fan from Kalgoorlie, said it meant a lot to see the national leaders walking to support reconciliation.
"They've pulled their socks up," he told AAP.
AFL great Kevin Sheedy told the crowd at Federation Square before the walk that Australia had been immature on indigenous relations for a long time but was now building bridges.
