The first Aboriginal person to win a gold medal at the Olympics is devastated by the failure of the referendum on an Indigenous voice.
Nova Peris, who is also a former Labor senator, said the result was gut-wrenching.
"It makes me sick and it's a really sad indictment," a tearful Ms Peris told SBS TV.
"The disadvantage of our people, the suffering in the lucky country in 2023 is disgusting, and Australia has pulled the shutters down."
Academic Marcia Langton said it was a sad moment in the nation's history.
"Australians had an opportunity to recognise us in the constitution and do so by allowing for a advisory body to parliament and the government to enable us to more quickly overcome the disadvantages," she said.
"With a majority of Australians voting 'no' to that proposition I think it will be at least two generations before Australians are capable of putting their colonial hatreds behind them and acknowledging that we exist."
Leading 'no' campaigner Warren Mundine said the 'no' campaign would not be celebrating, but would have "a beer, a lemon squash and a chit-chat".
"The Australian public have told us that they don't want a voice, they want the government and other people to get out there and do the job that needs to be done," he said.
"Billions of dollars have been spent and not got the outcomes that we need.
"We need to do a performance audit of this, that makes sure that that that we know where that money is spent and where that what has worked and what has not worked and then we need to fix those things."
Prof Langton said the 'no' campaign successfully imported the playbook of former US president Donald Trump by causing division then blaming the 'yes' campaign.
Former First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria co-chair Marcus Stewart said while he knew Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were hurting, “we are the most resilient people on this planet”.
The referendum wasn’t about them as First Nations People or the legitimacy of their culture, he said.
Instead, it was an opportunity to move the dial, and Australians had decided the 92 words put to them were not the best way forward.
“What that way is - that’s when the work starts tomorrow,” Mr Stewart said.
“We dust ourselves off and we get back to work."
Mr Stewart said Australians were not racist because they voted ‘no’, but instead saw a different pathway towards change.
Liberals for Yes co-convenor Sean Gordon said although he was saddened by the outcome, he had genuine hope for the future of reconciliation and recognition.
“I, like many Indigenous people, feel stronger knowing that we have stood shoulder to shoulder with so many Australians who have gained a deeper understanding and a shared hope for the recognition of our First Peoples and respect of Indigenous culture,” he said.
“Not having a constitutionally guaranteed voice to parliament is a missed opportunity that was offered up as a solution by Indigenous leaders.
"We now need time to reflect and find a way to work together with government and the parliament on a new pathway to constitutional recognition and better ways to deliver programs and policies to change the status quo and improve the lives of Indigenous people."
