Wrongs can be righted, says indigenous MP

Indigenous senator Pat Dodson has told his Labor colleagues the apology delivered by Kevin Rudd nine years ago brought together the symbolic and the practical.

Senator Dodson addressed caucus on Tuesday after leader Bill Shorten announced every meeting of the parliamentary ALP would now start with an acknowledgement of traditional owners and fly the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags next to the Australian flag.

"With right political leadership we can transcend the politics of fear and guilt as a nation and work towards a reconciliation based on truth-telling, healing and justice - wrongs can be righted," Senator Dodson said.