Aboriginal woman is first elected to the Australian Parliament

The former teacher Linda Burney, who made history by becoming the first Aboriginal woman elected to the Australian Parliament

Sydney, Jul 3, 2016 (AFP) - A former teacher of 59 years, Linda Burney, made history on Saturday in Australia to become the first Aboriginal woman elected in the lower house of parliament in the general elections.

"I think it's a really important moment for Australia," Burney said on Sunday the broadcaster ABC after being elected by the Labour party in Burton district.

In 2003, Burney had been the first to be elected in the regional parliament of the state of New South Wales.

The Aboriginal population of Australia is a victim of poverty and exclusion, which generates levels of education, life expectancy and social problems below the Australian average.