SYDNEY -- Prime Minister John Howard will meet Aboriginal leaders Wednesday to discuss the chronic domestic violence, child abuse and substance abuse now acknowledged to be devastating indigenous communities across Australia.

Howard called the meeting ahead of talks on indigenous violence by the Council of Australian Governments next month because of what he said was a new willingness on the part of indigenous leaders to recognise domestic violence had reached crisis proportions.

"On top of the very strong realization that this is a huge problem, there has come from indigenous leaders themselves what I can only describe as a cry from the heart for help and involvement of the broader community," Howard told commercial television here. "This is not primarily an issue of more money, this is primarily an issue of supporting leadership in indigenous communities."

Indigenous leaders, however, have long complained that chronic alcoholism is the cause of increasing domestic violence and sexual violence, now believed to be so bad that few children in the Aboriginal communities reach adolescence without being damaged by it.

Australia's 430,000 Aborigines represent just 2.2 percent of the population, but suffer far higher rates of poverty, ill-health, unemployment and substance abuse than the rest of the population despite the efforts of successive governments to find solutions. Police frequently report excessive drinking leading to violent rows often resulting in death, while welfare groups say welfare money is being spent on alcohol instead of food and clothes for children.

Numerous studies and media investigations have also found that petrol sniffing has become so widespread among young Aboriginals that it and alcohol are threatening to destroy an entire indigenous generation.

Among those meeting Howard is lawyer Noel Pearson, a leader of the Cape York community of northern Australia, who has long advocated a total ban on alcohol sales among his communities, arguing that until it happens the problems will not be solved.

The Aurukun community of Cape York earlier this year began a radical alcohol control program which has banned alcohol sales throughout the region, with the exception of a local tavern, which is banned from selling take-away alcohol.

Howard said the tone of calls for help had changed in recent times and everyone was willing to work together now to find ways to address the problem. "I think you have seen a shift in the debate in indigenous affairs," he said. "In the past there has been a resistance among some indigenous leaders themselves to recognizing the problem."

Former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Commission chief Lowitja O'Donohue, who is also attending the meeting with Howard said all state and federal governments must invest more in preventing domestic violence in Aboriginal communities.