Indigenous referendum panel named

Former AFL head honcho Andrew Demetriou and ex-NSW Premier Kristina Keneally are part of a special council charged with devising a game plan for a referendum on indigenous recognition in the constitution.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten named the 16-member council on Monday.

It includes Aboriginal leaders Noel Pearson, Patrick Dodson, Galarrwuy Yunupingu, Mick Gooda, Tanya Hosch and Pat Anderson, as well as former federal politicians Natasha Stott Despoja and Amanda Vanstone.

Mr Dodson and tax lawyer Mark Leibler, who were co-chairmen of the former expert panel on constitutional recognition, will also oversee the new council.

"The Referendum Council is an eminent group and will guide an important national discussion about recognition," Mr Turnbull and Mr Shorten said in a joint statement

Consultations will include a concurrent series of indigenous-designed and led consultations, they said.

The leaders noted the council and consultations were announced by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, alongside Mr Shorten, following a meeting with indigenous leaders at Kirribilli in July.

WHO'S ON THE REFERENDUM COUNCIL:

* Professor Patrick Dodson (co-chair)

* Mark Leibler (co-chair)

* Pat Anderson

* Professor Megan Davis

* Andrew Demetriou

* Murray Gleeson QC

* Mick Gooda

* Tanya Hosch

* Professor Kristina Keneally

* Jane McAloon

* Michael Rose

* Natasha Stott Despoja

* Noel Pearson

* Amanda Vanstone

* Dalassa Yorkston

* Galarrwuy Yunupingu