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Regional | Aboriginal

First Aboriginal woman elected to Australian House of Representatives

The first Aboriginal woman has secured a position in Australia's House of Representatives.

However, just who will govern the country remains to be seen.

Linda Burney has become a beacon of hope for Aboriginal people and women in Australia.

Indigenous academic Jessa Rogers says Burney's victory over the Barton electorate is a major milestone for Aboriginal people.  However, with an uncertain outcome from the weekend's federal election, she says she is also uncertain about how the votes will pan out.

Parties need to hold at least 76 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives to form a government.  Neither the Liberal-National Coalition led by Malcolm Turnbull nor the Australian Labor Party led by Bill Shorten have secured a clear win.

Meanwhile, Māori resident Chris Barber hopes the Australian Labor Party will come out on top.

“Yes, I hope Labor reaches the benchmark,” says Barton, “The Liberals enforced (Section 501 of the Migration Act) which has had an adverse effect on Kiwis and Māori here.”

The Australian Electoral Commissions latest results show Labor holding 71 seats and the Liberal-National Coalition holding 67 seats.

Six seats are yet to be determined with more results likely to come out tomorrow.