Federal opposition Leader Peter Dutton says any proposed Indigenous voice to parliament needs to address racial inequalities and improve reconciliation.
But Mr Dutton stopped short of officially endorsing the need for a voice, saying there needs to be tangible action first.
"It's not so much in my mind whether or not there's a voice, it's whether there's action from the government," he told Sky News.
"I want an outcome that's going to bring an end to the violence, the sexual assaults on children taking place in Alice Springs at the moment.
"Their voice is not being heard now."
The opposition leader said the prime minister has the numbers in the lower house and in the Senate with the support of the Greens but did not want to pass any legislation on the issue.
"He could introduce his model of the voice and demonstrate how it could work to help those children to bring an end to that violence," he said.
"I just want to know when the action is going to start.
"I want a model that is going to help those kids enjoy the life that I would expect my kids to enjoy in a capital city."
Treasurer Jim Chalmers hit back, saying Mr Dutton was looking for division, not the detail.
He said the voice would give First Nations communities the ability to have a say on issues that affect their lives.
"The voice is a massive opportunity for this country to move forward together in a spirit of unity and respect," he said.
"There is a lot of detail out there already from the working group and there'll be more detail provided between now and the referendum."
Dr Chalmers also took aim at the opposition leader's ambivalence.
"Peter Dutton has had multiple opportunities now to tell us whether he's still stuck in the past, or whether he supports the Uluru statement from the heart," he said.
"He's a very similar kind of leader to Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison. Three peas in a pod.
"They all practice this kind of divisive and destructive brand of politics."
The treasurer said the upcoming referendum campaign would also provide an opportunity for businesses, including the resource sector, to lend their support.
Resources Minister Madeleine King is urging mining and gas companies to support the voice to correct "extraordinary and devastating mistakes" made against Indigenous communities.
Ms King also accused large resource giants of misleading the public with "racist" advertisements against Keating-era native title laws.
She told The Sydney Morning Herald and Age newspapers their support was "the least they can do" given the benefits they've gained from Indigenous land.
