Racist search term linked to Tourism NT

The organisation in charge of promoting tourism in the Northern Territory is reviewing its online advertising policy after a derogatory term for Aborigines was linked to a paid Google advertisement.

Advertisers on Google are able to buy particular words so that when those words are used in a search, a sponsored link to that advertiser appears.

Until earlier today, if the word "Abo" was plugged into the search engine, a sponsored link to Tourism NT's website popped up. "Abo - an experience you will never forget. Experience Aboriginal culture in NT," the advertisement stated.

It linked through to the consumer website of Tourism NT. Tourism NT is a statutory authority of the Northern Territory Government "responsible for encouraging and fostering the development of tourism in the Northern Territory", its website states.

The link between the racist term and the Tourism NT ad, which was first noticed by a blogger, has since been disabled. On Tuesday afternoon Tourism NT released a statement, saying it was reviewing its online search policy.

"Tourism NT has been alerted to the use of an inappropriate search term to promote Tourism NT's consumer website, and has taken immediate and appropriate action to rectify this problem," the statement said.

"Tourism NT alerted MPG, our online search provider, who took down the link, effective immediately. "Tourism NT search procedures have been reviewed in order to prevent such errors re-occurring." Google said it has a policy against the use of offensive words, including the one linked to Tourism NT's ad.