Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says constitutional recognition of an Indigenous voice to Parliament would have been "contrary to the principles of equality and citizenship".

Key points: Body to which only Indigenous Australians can be elected not a desirable model, PM says

Body to which only Indigenous Australians can be elected not a desirable model, PM says Referendum Council recommended Indigenous voice to Parliament after nationwide meetings

Referendum Council recommended Indigenous voice to Parliament after nationwide meetings PM's decision described by Labor as "kick in the guts" for the council

The advisory body was the key recommendation of the Referendum Council and the landmark Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Mr Turnbull abandoned plans to hold a referendum to recognise Indigenous Australians last month, saying the body was neither "desirable or capable of winning acceptance".

The decision has been described by Labor "a kick in the guts" for the council, who described the proposal as "modest", "reasonable" and "capable of attracting the necessary support of the Australian people".

Mr Turnbull said he supported a stronger voice for Indigenous Australians in all aspects of society, before criticising the Referendum Council's recommendation.

"Our view is that is not a model that is desirable and the reason for that is our national representative institutions are based on the proposition that they are open to every Australian," Mr Turnbull said.

"To have a national representative assembly — which is what we are talking about here — would be in the Constitution and to which only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders can be elected.

"This is contrary to principles of equality and of citizenship."

PM's comments on recommendation 'misconceived'

The Prime Minister said the advisory body would have effectively been a third chamber of Federal Parliament, despite proponents of the body denying this.

"You don't respect people by telling them what they want to hear or by kicking ideas you think have no merit off into the long grass or into a committee," Mr Turnbull said.

"You have got to be fair dinkum, you've got to be forthright.

"We believe it is important to deliver recognition, but focus on things that are achievable."

But the president of the NSW Bar Association, Arthur Moses SC, said the Prime Minister has misunderstood the recommendations of the Referendum Council.

"In no way does the voice recommendation impact on the sovereignty of the Parliament or create a third chamber of Parliament," he said.

"What the Prime Minister has misunderstood is it is no different to the Prime Minister's Indigenous Advisory Council which the Prime Minister and Minister for Indigenous Affairs appoints."

Mr Moses also criticised Mr Turnbull's comments on the constitutional recognition of an Indigenous voice to Parliament being "contrary to equality and citizenship".

"With the greatest respect to the Prime Minister I think on this issue those comments are misconceived," he said.

"It is important that the report be properly understood, first of all by our political leaders and explained by our political leaders to the community and we should never underestimate the decency and intelligence of Australians when it comes to dealing with such sensitive issue.

"As a nation we are better than that and that is an issue that warrants serious consideration rather than being dismissed."

The Referendum Council's Noel Pearson described the decision to reject the body as devastating for the Indigenous community.

"I think Malcolm Turnbull has broken the First Nations hearts of this country, expressed in the Uluru Statement from the Heart," Mr Pearson said.

"He accused John Howard of doing that in 1999 and he has done the same thing in relation to recognition of Indigenous Australians."

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