Australia's prime minister elect Kevin Rudd has pledged his government would make an early formal apology to Aborigines for the "stolen generation" of indigenous children snatched from their parents. 

But Mr  Rudd has declined to say whether his promised apology to indigenous Australians on behalf of the government will include the word "sorry".

Mr Rudd said he would consult with Aboriginal people before deciding on the exact wording of the apology.

"The content of it will be real, meaningful, substantive and I want to be very clear with our friends from indigenous communities about the form of that," Mr Rudd told reporters in Brisbane.

"It's really important to get it right."

The prime minister-elect also said he was standing by his pledge when elected Labor leader a year ago to "rehabilitate the word 'compassion'".

He said he would target improvements in life expectancy and infant mortality in indigenous communities.
"It's not sustainable in a country like Australia to have three times the level of infant mortality amongst Aboriginal children under five than there is with non-Aboriginal children," he said.

Mr Rudd also said he was passionate about improving the lives of Australia's homeless people.
"I think we can do much much better as a nation for people who don't have anywhere to stay, or secure to stay," he said.

However, he said his compassion did not stretch to an overhaul of Australia's migration system which includes turning away illegal asylum seekers.