Dodson, a former Labor senator who retired to deal with serious health issues in 2023, was the inaugural chair of the Reconciliation Council (now Reconciliation Australia), in the 1990s.

“It’s up to us, we need to put pressure on and to be smart about and but we can’t afford to let this opportunity pass us by and let down the legitimate and just claims of the First Peoples of this country to be recognised as the unique First peoples and to enable us, as a nation, to go forward,” he said.

“Now, to a Labor party person that’s akin to the light on the hill (Labor Prime Minister Ben Chifley’s famous speech) – you don’t snuff it out just because you have adversity.”

Dodson says that it’s time for Labor to build on the momentum from the recent federal election and send a message to the many Australians who have supported reconciliation over a long period of time.

“We, the public, can’t allow the Government to just walk away and and forget the promises that they’ve made in the past and the need for this nation still to deal with the unfinished business.”