The maiden speech of Australia's first Indigenous woman in Federal Parliament could be the start of a new era in the political and social treatment of the country’s original inhabitants.

Senator Nova Peris said she would work tirelessly to address the racial divide that still runs through many aspects of life in Australia.

She said she would act to stop others from using the dire circumstances of many Aboriginal people to progress their personal agendas.

“Should I see this happen I will call it for what it is. It's racism and I know it's confronting, but I will not stand by in silence,” Senator Peris said.

She said officially recognising Indigenous Australians in the Constitution would be a powerful first step.

“To Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, this has always been part of our story of struggle, injustice and heartache.”

Senator Peris also spoke about the plan to build a nuclear waste facility at Muckaty Station near Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory.

“This policy is inflicting grief,” she said

“I strongly urge my fellow parliamentary colleagues to reconsider their support for the current location of this facility. Its location must be based on science not politics.”

“You only have to look around the Northern Territory, and there is a lot of injustice at the moment, with the high imprisonment rates, our housing, our health.

“We are all humans and you have got to do what is right and just... what I believe we can achieve is equity... equality no, equity yes. What we can achieve is what is fair and just.”