One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has revived her attacks on taxpayer money being spent on indigenous Australians, drawing criticism from Labor.
On the day the federal government delivered its annual Closing the Gap report, and a day before the 10th anniversary of Kevin Rudd's formal apology to the stolen generation, the Queensland senator returned to one of her most controversial talking points from her first stint in parliament.
"It is something I will be seeking to get involved in and to expose for what it is," Senator Hanson told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
"I said 20 years ago, I see it as an Aboriginal industry that's ripping off the taxpayers' dollars - and it still is."
Her views on indigenous affairs are broadly condemned on both sides of politics.
"Senator Hanson needs to have a good look not only at the statistics on paper but actually going out and meeting communities and seeing the conditions that people are forced to live in," indigenous Labor MP Linda Burney said.
"The most important thing in terms of Aboriginal health is listening to Aboriginal people."
The opposition has announced a future Labor government would create a compensation fund for victims of the stolen generations as well as hold a summit about first nations children within its first 100 days.
Ms Burney also responded to comments from Indigenous Health Minister Ken Wyatt that an indigenous voice to parliament could be possible via legislation, rather than being enshrined in the constitution.
"If the pathway for a voice to parliament is through legislation then we will be very happy to work with the government on this," she said.
But Labor's position was clear that there needed to be recognition of indigenous people in the constitution.
Liberal MP Melissa Price said the views of her indigenous colleague Mr Wyatt were valid and came from a deep understanding.
"I personally would like us to focus more on getting more House of Representative and Senate indigenous politicians," she said.
Earlier, indigenous Labor senator Pat Dodson said whatever the method, Aboriginal leaders needed to be involved in co-designing the legislation.
"There's no merit in simply leaving indigenous leaders at the door and excluding them from the real action," he told ABC radio.
"Don't dilly-dally any further."
