Confusion surrounds the push for a referendum on constitutional recognition amid a lack of direction from the Prime Minister's office, the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples has warned.

The comments come as a survey of hundreds of Aboriginal people around the nation reveals significant diversity of views on recognition, with a majority favouring a treaty as a first priority above changes to the constitution.

The National Congress issued the survey to its almost 6,000 members and has so far received more than 600 responses.

Questions included:

Whether members supported a Statement of Acknowledgment in the constitution

Whether members supported a Statement of Acknowledgment in the constitution Whether the Commonwealth should have power to make laws for Aboriginal people

Whether the Commonwealth should have power to make laws for Aboriginal people Whether Congress should support a ban on racial discrimination

Whether Congress should support a ban on racial discrimination And whether the referendum should be held on May 27, 2017 as is Opposition Leader Bill Shorten's preference

Respondents were also asked if they supported Noel Pearson's compromise plan of an advisory body to scrutinise legislation that affects Indigenous people, with 70.3 per cent of respondents supporting the idea.

The survey shows that 68.8 per cent of the congress's members support a treaty "as the first priority before recognition".

Congress should support a treaty as the first priority before recognition Strongly Agree 53.6% Agree 15.2% Undecided 18.4% Disagree 8.7% Strongly disagree 4.1%

Congress co-chair Jackie Huggins said she was not surprised by the strong support for a treaty, which would represent a settlement between First Nations and the Government in line with treaties in New Zealand and Canada.

"We won't stand back in terms of letting the Government know that this is a real issue for our people and they are saying to us loud and clear that they would want a treaty," Dr Huggins said.

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But she said strong support for a treaty did not necessary complicate the recognition campaign.

"I think it's something that our communities and individuals have been talking about since day one of this whole debate," Dr Huggins said.

Aboriginal policy 'in crisis', referendum not on track

Dr Huggins warned that there was a policy vacuum in Indigenous affairs that also extended to the referendum campaign.

"At the moment we believe Aboriginal policy in this country is in crisis and that policy is a shambles," Dr Huggins said.

"Things are not on track with the referendum. It's been five years now... So there's a lot of confusion. We don't even have a question yet or the timing of such a question."

A referendum council has been set up by the Federal Government to advise on progress and next steps towards a successful referendum.

The council is tasked with building upon the work of an expert panel set up under the Gillard government that laid out various scenarios for removing the race power contained within the constitution.

It had been due to report to Government by June 30, but has indicated that timetable is unrealistic.

The council is currently preparing a discussion paper that will lay out a plan for Indigenous conventions. The Prime Minister's office must sign off on the funding of the conventions.

Recognise leaves door open for widening of timetable

The Government-funded Recognise campaign said its most recent survey of 750 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people found 85 per cent support for voting "yes" if a referendum were held today.

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The Recognise campaign issued a statement yesterday that backed May 27, 2017 as an optimal date for a referendum, but left the door open for a widening of the timetable.

"The 50-year anniversary of the 1967 referendum stands as a critical and inspirational milestone in the decades-long struggle to fix our constitution to recognise the First Australians and address racial discrimination in the nation's rule-book," the statement said.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has also backed the May 27, 2017 date — the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum which saw Aboriginal people counted in the census.

However the Prime Minister has said only that 2017 is an "achievable" timeframe in which to hold a referendum.

But some Aboriginal people have spoken out in recent months against the May 27, 2017 date on the grounds that the potential for a failed referendum on the 50th anniversary of 1967 would mar that date in the minds of Aboriginal people.

Dr Huggins says she believes May 27, 2017 should be taken off the table.

"I think it's a very tight timeframe," she said.

"It's a very unrealistic date at present."