New NT leader is historic: federal leaders Adam Giles becoming NT Chief Minister is a historic moment, says the PM and Opposition Leader. PRIME Minister Julia Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott say the rise of new Northern Territory Chief Minister Adam Giles is an historic moment for indigenous Australians and the country. Mr Giles rolled Terry Mills for the top job on Wednesday, and in the process became Australia's first indigenous head of government. "Whatever the circumstances, this is a moment in history for indigenous Australians and appropriate that we mark it in this chamber," Ms Gillard told parliament on Thursday. Mr Abbott said the past few weeks of Northern Territory politics had been "tumultuous," and said he felt for Mr Mills, who led the Country Liberal Party to victory in last year's election. "Still, in a very important sense yesterday was a very auspicious day for our nation and auspicious day, if I may say so, for the conservative side of politics," he told parliament. It was the coalition that had given the federal parliament its first indigenous senator and first MP in the House of Representatives, he said. And now the coalition has given Australia its first indigenous head of government in Adam Giles, the chief minister of the Northern Territory.