As a torrid year in Australian politics draws to a close, it's a good time to look back at the life and career of the man known as the father of reconciliation, who recently announced he's permanently departing the federal arena.

A great sorrow is upon our land. The week of silence after rejection of the Voice is now over, but the grieving doesn’t end there.

In 1901, when Australia’s Constitution was originally determined, there was no direct mention of First Nations people. In fact, it was designed to deliberately exclude us.

The Australian Senate was the site of most of the action last week as parliament resumed. On Friday, the red chamber sat alone, going until after 4am on Saturday morning as Liberals and Nationals spun out the debate on whether there should be a Voice referendum, led by the pen-pointing cyborg-impersonator Michaelia Cash.

The Richmond for Yes campaign kicked off this week, with a strong call for volunteers to help deliver a successful Voice referendum.