Indigenous party likely after Northern Territory election

DARWIN - Indigenous Labour politicians will make up a fifth of parliament in the Northern Territory following the Australain Labour Party's (ALP) landslide victory.

Indigenous groups were hopeful strong inroads would be made into tackling Aboriginal issues, following the record representation in parliament.

However, the enormous Labour win has prompted renewed talk of establishing an Aboriginal political party to contest the next election.

"It's clear that people really didn't have a choice," outgoing ATSIC Yilli Rreung regional council chairman Kimberley Hunter said.

"The opposition certainly weren't an option for a lot of people."

The Labour Party delivered a crushing blow to the once-dominant Country Liberal Party, and could pick up 18 of the Legislative Assembly's 25 seats.

The CLP -- which ruled for 27 years until its first defeat by Labour in 2001 -- could hold just four to six seats, with leader Denis Burke likely to fall.

Mr Hunter said it was "paramount" Aborigines started their own party to give voters more choice, and greater representation with the demise of ATSIC muffling the indigenous voice.

"The bottom line is people do need more choice," he said.

"It's important that indigenous people see the opportunities.

"We just don't want any of the major parties riding on the back of black votes."

Labour, traditionally seen as the pro-Aboriginal party, was condemned by Aboriginal and legal groups during the election campaign for its new policy to jail mainly indigenous habitual drunks who refuse treatment.

The policy -- criticised as racist -- was aimed at appeasing voters in Darwin's crucial northern suburbs seats who are unhappy at drunks fighting, begging, swearing and defecating in public.

"The reality is indigenous people really didn't understand what they were voting for," Mr Hunter said.

"(Labour) pulled out a policy that went against indigenous people - it was a race card.

"(But) it's clear people didn't see the (Country) Liberal Party as an option whatsoever."

Mr Hunter was hopeful Labour's five indigenous politicians -- which include high profile former ATSIC commissioner Alison Anderson and local ABC television presenter Barbara McCarthy -- would take a strong stand for their Aboriginal constituents.

"I think it's great that we have got Alison Anderson, an indigenous person in parliament.

"I think that she might show a bit more grit on a lot of indigenous issues.

"I hope she will show some leadership on indigenous issues, rather than just pussyfooting around."

The five indigenous parliamentarians are Ms Anderson, Ms McCarthy, and existing MLAs Matthew Bonson, Marion Scrymgour and Elliott McAdam.

- AAP