ALP owes supporters vote on Voice: Pearson

Labor must hold a referendum on Indigenous recognition if it wins the election, Noel Pearson says. (AAP)

Indigenous leader Noel Pearson has called on Labor to "respect its base" and push ahead with a referendum on recognition if it wins the federal election.

Mr Pearson also revealed at a Judith Neilson Institute event in Sydney on Wednesday a conversation he had with Malcolm Turnbull, in which the then cabinet minister supported an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.