Go to the Northern Territory, where women won a large number of seats in the last election and listen to them speak about their hopes for their time in parliament.


LINDY KERIN: These women from the remote gulf community of Borroloola travelled hundreds of kilometres to Darwin this week to take part in the official opening of the tenth Legislative Assembly.

They were there to usher in the new Member for Arnhem Barbara McCarthy, and a new era of Territory politics.

The Yanyuwa woman and former ABC newsreader is one of three Indigenous women in Territory parliament.

BARBARA MCCARTHY: That is just an amazing thing to be part of.

When we look at the history of black politics in this country as compared with white politics, it really is only since the 1967 referendum that Indigenous people have been able to stand up and be counted, let alone be counted as politicians, so it's a great honour indeed.

LINDY KERIN: Labor's Alison Anderson who won the seat of MacDonnell hopes that her example will send a strong message to young Territorians.

ALISON ANDERSON: I think it's breaking down the barrier of politics in the country. It's now shown to women that it is possible and I think the fact that we've got three Indigenous women in the parliament in the Northern Territory also breaks down the barrier and educates our children in remote Aboriginal communities that political life is not impossible. If we can do it then they can do it.

LINDY KERIN: It's a very different looking chamber compared with the last parliament.

Not only does Labor hold a 19 seat majority, but 10 of the 25 seats are held by women, including what's now being touted as the triangle of women in key leadership roles.

DELIA LAWRIE: In the past women have been looked down upon to a certain extent in parliament as though you know were playing second fiddle to the men.

The change in this Territory election shows that that should no longer be the case that we very much stand shoulder to shoulder with the men and work with the men and indeed we've got women in the three key leadership roles which is fantastic.

KERRY SACILOTTO: I think I think it just proves that we breed them tough in the Territory and that we've got a lot of clever and inspired women and making the ranks of ten out of parliament that's fantastic. I'm really proud to be one of them.

LINDY KERIN: The CLP's new Deputy leader Fay Miller was joined by family at the opening of parliament.

FAY MILLER: I think women have a different perspective than men do.

I don't have that mean spirit in me that you're supposed to have. It's regulatory apparently to be a politician you have to have that mean streak in you, but I've got a fighting spirit in me and I certainly, when I get my back up against the wall the best in me comes out. So I believe that that's a quality that I bring to this parliamentary team.

LINDY KERIN: Labor's Marion Scrymgour, who became Australia's first Indigenous female Minister in the last parliament. She had some advice for her new colleagues.

MARION SCRYMGOUR: Look, relax. It's great. It's fun. Learn the parliamentary role. That was something that I value, that I learnt to crawl before I could walk.

The years that I spent on the backbench was certainly something that was well worth doing. It's a new process. It's something that we've all got to learn but once you learn it you're right.