Should the government negotiate a formal treaty with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?

Following the failed 'Voice to Parliament' referendum, the focus of Indigenous affairs has shifted toward 'Makarrata,' or treaty-making. A treaty is a formal agreement that would recognize that First Nations people possessed sovereignty prior to British colonization and never ceded it. It could involve reparations, land rights, and truth-telling commissions. Proponents argue it is the only legal mechanism to resolve the 'unfinished business' of Australia's history and empower Indigenous self-determination. Opponents argue that a treaty is constitutionally dangerous, would lead to endless litigation, and fundamentally undermines the concept of a unified Australian citizenry.