Massive recognition difficulties: Mundine

The prime minister's top indigenous adviser believes a referendum on constitutional recognition is facing "massive difficulties".

Warren Mundine says newly-installed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has a tough task ahead to match the expectations of indigenous Australians to the general public.

Polls show the majority of Australians want constitutional recognition, but Mr Mundine points out there is no actual proposal on the table.

Some people want symbolic recognition while others what more substantive change - like prohibiting racial discrimination - in the nation's founding document.

Mr Mundine is the head of ousted prime minister Tony Abbott's hand-picked indigenous advisory team and will keep his job under Mr Turnbull.

He praised Mr Abbott for his engagement with indigenous Australians and for making the issue "front and centre" of his government.

"It was a tremendous change, it was a revolutionary change," Mr Mundine told Sky News on Sunday.

But while Mr Abbott threw the spotlight on indigenous affairs, achieving an outcome was still moving as "the turtle not the hare".

Mr Mundine blames that partly on the challenges of working with multiple state governments.

The indigenous leader doesn't expect every future prime minister to follow in Mr Abbott's footsteps and dedicate one week each year to a remote indigenous community.

But he does expect significant engagement with indigenous groups on the ground.

Mr Mundine is excited to work with Mr Turnbull - a self-made multimillionaire - on areas like indigenous investment, business and jobs.

"He brings that brain there that is so missing in indigenous affairs," he said.