The president of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) says the short
life expectancy of Aboriginal Australians is a national disgrace.

Kerryn Phelps has been travelling through the Northern Territory this
week, spending time at remote communities outside Katherine.

Dr Phelps says Australian governments need to commit both the will and the
finances to redress Aboriginal disadvantage.

"I met a very rare individual and that was an Aboriginal man aged 82... he
would have to be probably one of the oldest indigenous Australians," she
said.

"It's to me a national disgrace that we have a group of Australians who
can only expect to live 55 years and that their health during those 55
years is worse than any other group of Australians."