The Albanese Government is considering its next steps to close the gap for Australia’s Indigenous people, and reports say one option being considered is an interim policy advisory group to report to PM Anthony Albanese. Nothing’s set in stone, but Team Albanese is under pressure to answer questions about what will be done to improve outcomes. There was also more said about why the referendum was defeated… Labor MP Marion Scrymgour (who represents most of the Northern Territory by area) says “an element of racism” played a part. “There was a lot of bullying and other misinformation that was peddled out,” she says. But her Labor colleague Mike Freelander said the ‘Yes’ campaign was an “echo chamber of elites talking to elites”. Also considering the result is Coalition leader Peter Dutton – his commitment to hold a referendum on Indigenous recognition is “going to be reviewed”.