It is all but confirmed Australians will not vote on constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians before the next federal election, with the minister responsible saying it is now "unlikely" to happen.
Last year, Ken Wyatt committed the Government to deliver a vote on the issue within three years, pledging to "bring forward a consensus option" during the current term of Parliament.
But in a series of tweets today he said that had now changed.
"The [Government] supports holding a referendum to recognise Indigenous Australians in the constitution," he wrote.
"It is unlikely to happen in this term of Parliament.
"Constitutional recognition is too important [to] rush and too important to fail.
"We will not be placing a timeline on this process."
Mr Wyatt also said options for an Indigenous voice to parliament would be presented to the Government by November and would be followed by public consultation.
The comments come after calls by the Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, for a clearer timeline from Prime Minister Scott Morrison on when the vote would go ahead.
"[We want to know] what [the Prime Minister] means by a referendum, what he means by a voice to parliament and what the timetable is," she said.
"Community and people need to know what is going forward, that is the responsibility of the Prime Minister."
Ms Burney said she thought if the referendum did not go ahead Australians "would be extremely disappointed".
