The Aboriginal affairs minister, Jenny Macklin, said the aim was to make the apology, the wording of which has been discussed with indigenous leaders, "as early as possible" after the resumption of parliament on February 12.

The apology would fulfil a pledge made by the prime minister, Kevin Rudd, after his Labor party won the November elections.

All six state governments have already made official apologies, but the former prime minister, John Howard, refused, arguing that contemporary Australians were not responsible for past policies.

"What is important here is to do everything we can to really see this as a positive way forward for the nation," said Macklin. "We want it to be above politics, we want to make it as positive as possible."

But the government remains opposed to demands from some Aboriginal leaders for financial reparations. Rudd has said his policies on health and education would attempt to lift living standards for Aborigines, and "we can do that in the absence of any compensation arrangement".

Some say an official apology may leave the government open to legal claims of compensation, though most lawyers disagree.

Numbering about 450,000 in a population of 21 million, Aborigines are the poorest ethnic group in Australia and are most likely to be jailed, unemployed and illiterate. They have a far higher infant mortality rate and die, on average, 17 years younger than other Australians.

Rudd said yesterday, during the annual Australia day holiday weekend that celebrates the arrival of Australia's first white settlers on January 26, 1788, that an apology would help unite the country.

"The key thing is to build a bridge with indigenous Australia through an apology, through saying sorry, because that bridge is a pathway to respect," he said.

Many Aborigines call Australia day "Invasion day" and regard it as a day of mourning because Britain colonised the country without the agreement of its indigenous inhabitants.