Aborigines cast leadership vote

Australia's treatment of aborigines is an election issue

By Red Harrison BBC, Sydney

Australian Aborigines began voting on Saturday for the Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Commission (Atsic), the main governing body for indigenous people.

The election will fill about 400 positions on the Commission's regional councils across the country, but it is a far from peaceful affair.

The elections have been marked by serious allegations of corruption and bitter personal feuding.

Some of the more than 1,000 candidates want a treaty from the government containing an apology for the treatment of Aborigines over the past 200 years.

Others want progress on more practical measures, reducing dependence on welfare and giving aborigines a greater say over their own affairs.

Political feud

The contest for leadership is particularly bitter; the chairman, Geoff Clark, wants to keep the job.

Aborigines are among the poorest sections of society

His deputy, Sugar Ray Robinson, wants to take his place.

Both men are the target of serious allegations.

Mr Robinson is a convicted rapist.

Both men deny accusations of misconduct and corruption over the Commission's funding which totals well over a billion Australian dollars.

Critics say some commissioners have enjoyed almost unfettered access to this money and much has been spent without proper scrutiny, while areas intended to benefit - housing, education, employment and health - still lag behind the rest of Australia.

Results of the elections are expected to be declared in about a month.