She pointed to severe Aboriginal disadvantage across a string of areas in Canberra. While Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders made up less than 2 per cent of the population, one quarter of prisoners in Canberra were Aboriginal. One quarter of all children in care were also Aboriginal, she said.

Low birth-rates of Aboriginal babies were more than twice as common. Hospital admissions were four times higher for chronic kidney disease and diabetes.

Aboriginal people had a life expectancy of up to 15 years less than non-Aborigines, Ms Tongs, who is chief executive of the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service, said. She pointed also to high mental health diagnoses, drug and alcohol problems, lower eduction outcomes and higher unemployment.

Ms Tongs said many of the Canberrans living in poverty were Aboriginal, with I

Poverty and disadvantage were too well disguised by Canberra's affluence, with the result that it wasn't treated urgently. And the efforts that were made were having little measurable impact on the lives of some Aboriginal families, she said

CallingMinisterAndrewinquiry, she pointed to Census data showing six of Canberra's census districts fell into the bottom 10 per cent of national rankings for social disadvantage. Based on national comparisons, between 30,000 and 40,000 Canberrans lived in poverty.

"There is a need to constantly strive for new ways, new models of service delivery, new structures and renewed effort. In my opinion this will be best and perhaps only achieved through a full and exhaustive inquiry into poverty in the ACT," she said.