An emotional pledge has been delivered to Indigenous Australians after the voice referendum was defeated, promising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people a better future.
Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney gave an impassioned speech in response to the rejection of constitutional change.
"Be proud of who you are, be proud of your identity, be proud of the 65,000 years of history and culture that you are part of and your rightful place in this country," she told the nation from Canberra.
"We will carry on and we will move forward and we will thrive. This is not the end of reconciliation."
Further measures to address the disadvantage gap would be announced in coming months, Ms Burney said.
"We all agree we need better outcomes for First Nations people," she said.
"We need to keep listening to Indigenous Australians about what works and what can make practical differences for the next generation because we all want what's best for our children."
As counting continued, official figures showed 59 per cent of the nation voted against constitutional change at the first referendum to be put to Australians since 1999.
Voters in Ms Burney's Sydney seat of Barton also voted down the proposal with more than 55 per cent of people writing 'no' on their ballots.
Ahead of polls closing, Ms Burney said she would fight until the last minute for a successful referendum.
Her state of NSW voted down the proposal after a resounding 'no' result in western Sydney and the regions.
