Indigenous diggers copped racism

Indigenous soldiers received nothing but "ignorance and racism" instead of the recognition they deserved upon returning to Australia from war, a Labor MP has told federal parliament.

Rob Mitchell recalled the story of one Aboriginal man who, after being denied his pay packet and pension, was sent straight back to work in the same "rags" he was wearing the day he volunteered.

"These diggers were ineligible to vote, but they were eligible to die for this country," he told the lower house on Monday ahead of Remembrance Day.