A senior Indigenous senator and Nationals leader David Littleproud agree on the importance of setting the right tone in the debate over the Indigenous voice referendum.
Their comments came as new research revealed high rates of workplace discrimination experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
Data from Diversity Council Australia showed 59 per cent of Indigenous employees faced discrimination or harassment in the workplace this year.
That represented a nine percentage point increase since the last inclusion at work survey in 2021.
Assistant Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy offered words of encouragement in light of the inflamed debate around the referendum.
"I would say to all Australians, but in particular First Nations people, you stay strong," she told ABC TV on Thursday.
"We are going to get through this, it will be a much better Australia and I am confident ... that ordinary Australians can see through all of the rubbish that's being said that hurts and discriminates against people."
Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney on Wednesday accused Opposition Leader Peter Dutton of being a “bully boy” for criticising big businesses supporting a 'yes' vote on the voice.
Asked about the referendum debate's impact on discrimination, Mr Littleproud said: "What we need to do is make sure as political leaders we keep the tone right".
"I've made it clear to my team that we're not to call people names, simply articulate our case based on our lived experience of looking after rural and remote Australians, Indigenous Australians," he told ABC TV.
Ms Burney also said in her National Press Club speech the 'no' campaign was using Trump-style politics.
Asked if he was concerned ministers disparaging Mr Trump could impact on Australia's relations with a future Trump administration, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dismissed the question.
"I'm focused on an election that I'll be involved in sometime in 2025," he said.
"But what I'm really focused on is just governing in an orderly good way.
"What occurs with other elections in other countries is a matter for them."
Mr Littleproud said Ms Burney's Trump comments were disappointing.
"She couldn't answer the questions around the details and the mechanics of the voice, about how this would actually shift the dial particularly those in regional remote areas."
