Indigenous leader Tom Calma has skewered Attorney-General George Brandis' proposed changes to race-hate laws, making for an awkward Monday as the two men will share the stage at a reconciliation launch.

Dr Calma, the co-chairman of Reconciliation Australia, said Senator Brandis' changes would set back the reconciliation process between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

"This will put back reconciliation, understanding [and] respect": Indigenous leader Dr Tom Calma. Credit:Andrew Meares

Dr Calma and Senator Brandis are preparing to launch a ''reconciliation action plan'' for the Federal Circuit Court at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Redfern on Monday.

The federal government's race-law changes would create ''more opportunities for people to humiliate, vilify or denigrate other people based on their race or religion,'' Dr Calma said.