On October 14 last year, more than 60 per cent of Australians voted 'no,' with every state and territory - apart from the ACT - rejecting the permanent advisory body and constitutional recognition of First Nations people.
Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who voted in favour of the voice have said they felt rejected, and Indigenous leader and academic Marcia Langton declared reconciliation was dead.
Professor Megan Davis said the referendum should have been delayed. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)
One of the architects of the Uluru Statement from the Heart Megan Davis said once it became clear the referendum was unlikely to win public support, it should have been delayed.
But an Albanese government spokeswoman said Labor had delivered on its election commitment to take the voice to a referendum.
"The result was disappointing, but we accepted it," she said.
"We acknowledge the pain that continues for many First Nations people, and we recognise their resilience."
The spokeswoman said the government remained committed to the "principles of truth-telling and Makarrata and important work continues at a state and territory level".
Reflecting on her role in helping defeat the proposal, opposition Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said the government needed to audit spending on First Nations programs.
"We need to leave the divisive Voice behind us and focus on what is going to deliver practical outcomes for some of our most marginalised Australians," Senator Nampijinpa Price said.
"Too much money is being poured into programs and organisations that simply aren't improving the lives of Indigenous Australians.
"That money could and should be redirected into those that have proven measurable outcomes."
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