By Michael Gordon at Uluru
Australia's first Indigenous constitutional convention is set to agree on a pathway to constitutional recognition and negotiating a treaty or treaties, despite a fiery walkout by seven delegates from Victoria and NSW on Thursday.
Referendum Council co-chair Pat Anderson said the 250 delegates who stayed in the room were united and committed to "reaching some outcome tomorrow afternoon as planned which will improve our lives".
Flanked by delegates from Victoria and NSW who took no part in the walkout and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar, Ms Anderson said there was a strong commitment to completing the task and reaching a common position.
Those who walked out oppose constitutional recognition and maintain their voices were being shut down inside the convention. They have vowed not to compromise.
Jenny Munro and delegates address the media after walking out of the First Nations National Convention at Uluru.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
They included Jenny Munro, Lyall Munro and Fred Hooper, from NSW, and Lidia Thorpe from Victoria. They declared that sovereign treaties, not a referendum, were needed.
Northern Land Council chairman Joe Morrison described the walkout as a hurdle that was always going to have to be faced, but not a "show-stopper".
"It was always going to be an ambitious conversation," said Mr Morrison, whose council has supported constitutional recognition "alongside work looking at treaty-making and a conversation about a final settlement".
Anangu elder Alison Hunt took exception to the walkout on her traditional lands, telling the dissidents: "You are going to get nowhere if you do that.
Ruth Gilbert was among the delegates who walked out of the First Nations National Convention at Uluru.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
"If you want to stay and talk in our country, talk straight, talk strong and be focused to get the message to the government."
Stressing the need to speak with one voice, Ms Hunt said: "This is a sacred land. We've got one last chance to make it happen and we have to be seen as responsible people speaking together."
Co-chair of the Referendum Council Pat Anderson.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Mr Hooper claimed he had been double-crossed, saying Noel Pearson had discussed a pathway to a treaty during the lunch break on Thursday, but it was not put to the convention.
"These past two days everybody is talking treaty and sovereignty never ceded," Mr Hooper said. "We have to develop a road map to a Makarrata or a treaty with the first nations people of this country." Makarrata is a Yolngu word from north-eastern Arnhem land for coming together after a struggle.
The three-day convention will wind up on Friday before a closing ceremony at the foot of Uluru. The outcome will be presented to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.