Australia's indigenous leaders have accused Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's government of "humiliating" them by refusing to establish an indigenous advisory body to parliament. Turnbull on Sunday ruled out supporting a referendum on enshrining the body in the constitution, Xinhua news agency reported.

The advisory body proposal was first agreed to by delegates from 250 indigenous communities under 2017's historic Uluru Statement. Speaking at the annual Garma Festival on Sunday night, award-winning author Richard Flanagan accused the government of lacking courage.