Bill Shorten insists giving Aboriginal people a voice to federal Parliament won’t result in people’s backyards and clotheslines being subject to land rights claims.
The Labor leader is backing calls to give indigenous people a voice and rejected Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s characterisation that it would be a third legislative chamber.
“It’s about making sure when we make policies for First Australians, they are involved in the decisions that affect their lives,” Mr Shorten told Sky News.
“What are people really afraid of? Are we afraid somehow … talking to Aboriginal people about matters that affect them will see your backyard and Hills Hoist the subject of a land rights claim. That’s rubbish.”
He would like the advisory body to be elected, representative, regional and bottom up.