Indigenous Labor candidate says claims about her father and about being pursued for debts were sent to newspaper
Nova Peris, the Labor Senate candidate for the Northern Territory, has said she has suffered a series of racist and defamatory attacks aimed at her since her candidacy was announced.
Peris, an Indigenous Australian who replaced Trish Crossin as Labor's first choice on its NT Senate ticket, said she has been made the target of repeated abuse on social media and email that has questioned her background.
The former Olympic hockey player says that a "dirt sheet" was sent to the NT News last week that claimed her father isn't Aboriginal and that a debt collector once pursued her and former husband Daniel Batman over unpaid bills for home renovations. Peris denies both of these claims.
Peris believes the document originated from the Liberal party or Liberal supporters, but she has no direct evidence for this. "It was clear [it was from the Liberals] because it was directed at the Labor party too," she told Guardian Australia. "I've received a whole heap of mail and it's been horrible. A lot of it came when I was first announced in February and then it died down again until now. There are a few keyboard warriors out there who want to throw things at me."
Peris said a series of personal, derogatory remarks have also been aimed at her on social media.
"I have only come out with this publicly because I want to show what I've had to put up with. It's been dealt with by the Australian federal police and I will continue with my journey."
Tory Mencshelyi, director of the Country Liberals, denied the allegation that the party was behind the dirt sheet and instead pointed the finger back at Labor.
"Unfortunately Nova was the subject of negative speculation and criticism from within her own party that revolved around the manner of her preselection," she said.
Peris was chosen as a "captain's pick" for a Senate spot by then prime minister Julia Gillard in January, prompting disquiet within Labor ranks, not least from Crossin, who will lose her Senate seat as a result of the move.
If elected, Peris will become the first Indigenous female member of Australia's federal parliament.
Peris has already indicated a willingness to diverge from Labor policy by saying she would have opposed the choice of a controversial nuclear waste dump in the remote Muckaty community.
The would-be senator said that more needed to be done to improve the opportunities of Territorians, especially those of Aboriginal backgrounds.
"I've visited 32 communities in the past 12 weeks and my diary is full of so many different issues," she said. "It's very well saying that the territory is open for business, but you need to take people with you and ensure there is investment in young people and education.
"People think you can chuck a mine into the territory and that no one really cares, but you need to work with Territorians on the environmental and social impacts.
"There are die-hard Territorians who are saying that their grandchildren can't afford to live here. Jobs and the cost of living is a huge issue here. We've got to ensure that people don't get left behind and that the gap isn't expanded instead of closed.
"I've lived in the Territory for the past 42 years, apart from when I was interstate and overseas for sport, so I know the issues here. All I can be is true to myself and the people I represent. I understand it will be bloody tough, but I am prepared to put in the hard yards."
