This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/14/adam-giles-australia-aboriginal-leader
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Adam Giles becomes first Aboriginal leader of a provincial government | Adam Giles becomes first Aboriginal leader of a provincial government |
| (4 months later) | |
| Australia has its first Aboriginal leader of a provincial government, in a development welcomed by the prime minister as a historic moment for the nation's impoverished indigenous population. | Australia has its first Aboriginal leader of a provincial government, in a development welcomed by the prime minister as a historic moment for the nation's impoverished indigenous population. |
| Adam Giles was sworn in on Thursday as government head of the Northern Territory, one of two Australian mainland territories largely treated as equals to the six states. | Adam Giles was sworn in on Thursday as government head of the Northern Territory, one of two Australian mainland territories largely treated as equals to the six states. |
| The former civil servant became leader on Wednesday in an internal coup in the ruling conservative Country Liberal party while the former chief minister, Terry Mills, was in Japan on a business trip. | The former civil servant became leader on Wednesday in an internal coup in the ruling conservative Country Liberal party while the former chief minister, Terry Mills, was in Japan on a business trip. |
| The Australian prime minister, Julia Gillard, who leads a centre-left Labour government, told parliament that Giles' promotion deserved national recognition. "This is a moment in history for indigenous Australians and it's appropriate that we mark it in this chamber," she said. | The Australian prime minister, Julia Gillard, who leads a centre-left Labour government, told parliament that Giles' promotion deserved national recognition. "This is a moment in history for indigenous Australians and it's appropriate that we mark it in this chamber," she said. |
| Giles, 40, described himself as an example for parents to use to inspire their children. "Mums and dads can say: 'You can do it. You can do anything. Look at Giles. If he can do it, you can do it,'" he told reporters after he and his cabinet were sworn in. | Giles, 40, described himself as an example for parents to use to inspire their children. "Mums and dads can say: 'You can do it. You can do anything. Look at Giles. If he can do it, you can do it,'" he told reporters after he and his cabinet were sworn in. |
| Aborigines number 600,000 among Australia's 23 million population. They are the poorest ethnic group in Australia, suffer poor health and lag behind in education. They die years younger than other Australians on average and are more likely to be imprisoned. | Aborigines number 600,000 among Australia's 23 million population. They are the poorest ethnic group in Australia, suffer poor health and lag behind in education. They die years younger than other Australians on average and are more likely to be imprisoned. |
| Aborigines account for 30% of the Northern Territory's population, by far the highest proportion of any state or territory. Giles is a member of a parliament in which one in four lawmakers is indigenous. | Aborigines account for 30% of the Northern Territory's population, by far the highest proportion of any state or territory. Giles is a member of a parliament in which one in four lawmakers is indigenous. |
| In the federal parliament, there is just one Aborigine, Ken Wyatt, among 226 lawmakers, and he is among just three Aborigines ever to serve in that body. The major parties are embarrassed by the lack of indigenous legislators and have made some effort in recent years to recruit Aboriginal candidates. | In the federal parliament, there is just one Aborigine, Ken Wyatt, among 226 lawmakers, and he is among just three Aborigines ever to serve in that body. The major parties are embarrassed by the lack of indigenous legislators and have made some effort in recent years to recruit Aboriginal candidates. |
| Gillard, Australia's first female prime minister, has used her influence to ensure that the first Aboriginal woman will be elected to the federal parliament in elections on 14 September. | Gillard, Australia's first female prime minister, has used her influence to ensure that the first Aboriginal woman will be elected to the federal parliament in elections on 14 September. |
| Gillard intervened in January to make Nova Peris, an Aborigine and Olympic gold medalist hockey player, her party's first choice for senator representing the Northern Territory. Being listed as Labour's first choice on the ballot paper places Peris in an unbeatable position. | Gillard intervened in January to make Nova Peris, an Aborigine and Olympic gold medalist hockey player, her party's first choice for senator representing the Northern Territory. Being listed as Labour's first choice on the ballot paper places Peris in an unbeatable position. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |