BBC News Online: World: Asia-Pacific

Australian territory signals Aboriginal reconciliation

Promise of new policy on land rights

The woman who will be the chief minister of Australia's Northern Territory has promised a fresh start in relations with the Aboriginal community.

Claire Martin will be the territory's first Labor minister in 26 years after their defeat of the conservative Country Liberal Party in last weekend's election

In her address to the elders, Claire Martin tackled the issues which have alienated the Aboriginal community over the past two-and-a-half decades.

Mandatory sentencing

She promised an inclusive government for all and committed herself to repealing the mandatory sentencing regime that automatically jails people for property crime.

Aboriginal leaders say that since the law was put in place four years ago, the imprisonment rate of indigenous women has gone up by 200%, and people have been jailed for crimes as small as stealing a biscuit.

Ms Martin also pledged that her government would deal with land rights and native title claims in a completely different way.

Aboriginal leaders say that Ms Martin's meeting with them, on the very day that she will be invited to form government, is hugely significant, and that it could herald the start of a deeper reconciliation process.

A federal election is expected before the end of the year, and a Labour win in what had been a staunchly conservative area, is being seen as a warning to the coalition government of Prime Minister John Howard.