Julia Gillard has finally emerged out of Australia's general election as the country's first woman prime minister and leader of a new, Labour-led, minority administration.

The negotiations to gain the support of independent MPs were tough.

But one thing that barely figured on the agenda was indigenous affairs - an issue so far down the list of political priorities in Australia these days that it hardly featured in the election campaign of either main party.
 
Things were a little different three years ago. Back then, concern over the indigenous communities of the country's Northern Territory was so serious the government sent in the army.
 
It was part of a wider interventionist policy aimed at bringing indigenous Australians into the mainstream, but was criticised by many for its heavy-handed approach.
 
So has it worked? Paul Eedle, who grew up in Australia, returned to investigate whether the programme has achieved its goals.

This episode of People & Power can be seen from Wednesday, September 8, at the following times GMT: Wednesday: 0600, 1230; Thursday: 0130, 1400, 1930; Friday: 0630, 1630; Saturday: 0330, 2030; Sunday: 0030, 0530; Monday: 0830.