Download  Australia has gone to the polls this weekend in a general election.

One part of the community who struggle to get their voices heard by the politicians is indigenous Australians.

Australia’s indigenous history dates back 40 thousand years.

But when the British first arrived, 220 years ago, it marked a turning point for indigenous culture.

Diseases brought by European settlers ravaged the Aboriginal population, and over time, government policies have taken their toll on some of the foundations of Australian indigenous culture and identity.

Language is just one area which has suffered with many indigenous dialects now under serious threat.

But there is some hope, as Elise Potaka-Osborne found out when she visited a community centre in Sydney.

Download  Australia's new female Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, this week completed the image of being a different kind of leader by telling the nation she doesn't believe in God.

Some eyebrows were raised in the media and mention was made of the tradition of church-going by Australian Prime Ministers.

As a child, she was a Baptist, now she's an avowed atheist.

But does it really matter to Australians?

Linda Mottram of Radio Australia finds out.

Download  For many years now Australia has been a preferred destination for people fleeing conflicts and persecution in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and other countries across the region.

Thousands have attempted the treacherous journey often in small fishing boats and usually setting out from Indonesia.

More than 100 boats have arrived in the last two years, and this influx has become an increasing source of tension between political parties and the Australian public.

In effort to stem the tide the Australian government announced last week that it would suspend the application process for asylum seekers arriving from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan for a period of up to six months.

In Sydney our reporter Katie Hamann asks what this latest decision means for thousands of refugees hopeful of reaching Australian shores.

Download  In Australia's Northern Territory, a coronial inquest is getting under way into the death of 11 year-old Briony Goodsell who was taken by a crocodile in a rural area of the territory's capital, Darwin, just over a year ago.

After her death the Territory Government announced a new plan for managing crocodiles in greater Darwin where both human and crocodile populations are expanding.

The experts argue still more needs to be done to protect the public.

Sara Everingham reports.