Nova Peris playing hockey for Australia and yesterday, in Canberra.
So it seems that the next election will most likely see Australia’s first Indigenous woman enter the nation’s parliament.
The Prime Minister has announced that former Hockey-Roo, sprinter and Olympic gold medalist, Nova Peris will be the Labor Party’s number one candidate for the Senate in the Northern Territory.
The Prime Minister has said that “Nova’s selection is a matter of national significance”, pointing to the celebrity candidate’s work in health and education, as well as her achievements on the sporting field.
Peris said at a press conference yesterday, ” I stand here before you all today not only as an Australian but as a proud Aboriginal woman; proud of my heritage and culture. I certainly understand the significance of this opportunity and I am very honoured and humbled.”
But what would normally be cause for celebration, has been met by some predictable controversy in the media and amongst ALP members today.
They’re pissed because Nova Peris was not chosen by ordinary members of the Labor Party to contest the Senate spot. In fact, she’s not even a member of the Labor Party. Instead Peris was chosen by the Prime Minister and Labor’s Head Office (read: faceless men) and has been what is commonly referred to as ‘parachuted in’.
Or – as Tony Abbott might call it: queue jumping.
Who cares, right? Why shouldn’t the Prime Minister be able to pick who she wants in her own team? Celebrity or otherwise, so long as Peris is a strong candidate who will do a good job, why does it matter?
While most of us view the move as perfectly reasonable, some members of the Labor Party are already arking up and ‘unnamed’ Labor MPs are reportedly livid about the Prime Minister’s endorsement of Peris.
This is why:
Normally, candidates are chosen to stand for election by a vote of ALP members in a particular area. So ordinary residents of the Northern Territory who have joined the ALP get together before an election year and they vote for who in the local area would be the best person to stand for election
Senator Trish Crossin.
In this case, a woman called Trish Crossin has been selected via this process prior to every election since 1998. She’s well liked by local branch members and popular in the community.
The Prime Minister’s announcement means that Crossin will lose her job and that members won’t be given the opportunity to vote like they normally do.
Ordinary members of the ALP take their right to vote in this process (called ‘pre-selection’) very seriously. These people are staunch supporters of their party and having a say in who gets to run for the Labor Party in elections is something that they hold dear.
This announcement has come as a surprise to them and many members will be frustrated that they aren’t getting to have their say. Trish Crossin herself was apparently only told that Prime Minister Gillard would be supporting Peris, ‘days’ earlier.
And while the two situations are very different – the picture being painted of Prime Minister Gillard as someone who does deals behind closed doors that see members of parliament lose their jobs – is one her office will be desperately trying to avoid.
Nova Peris, Julia Gillard, Peter Garrett, Maxine McKew.
Add to this, the fact that Crossin is a well-renowned Rudd supporter, there is also some speculation that the Prime Minister’s decision to back a different candidate is ‘revenge’. While the Prime Minister’s office will herald the pre-selection of Peris as a win for equality and an important recognition of the rights of indigenous Australians to be represented in parliament, others will point out that she has passed over other Indigenous candidates in the past, including Warren Mundine who was an early favourite for Senator Bob Carr’s Senate spot.
Overriding the normal pre-selection processes of the ALP and parachuting in a celebrity candidate is not new. Peter Garrett, Maxine McKew, Bob Carr and Mike Kelly are all members of the federal parliament who had significant public profiles before coming to office and didn’t have to go through the ordinary selection processes.
Celebrity candidates have had mixed success in the past. While Peter Garrett remains a high profile Minister in the Gillard Cabinet, he has attracted significant criticism over his handling of the pink bats insulation program that saw four people lose their lives. Maxine McKew was hailed as a ‘giant slayer’ following her win over Prime Minister John Howard in the Sydney seat of Bennalong but was firmly ousted in the 2010 election after being largely invisible for three years.
The endorsement of Peris comes at a time where support for Gillard’s Prime Ministership continues to be mixed within the ALP caucus and with only a couple of weeks to go before parliament returns, this could be an internal fight the Prime Minister can’t afford to have.
What do you think? Is Nova Peris – a 41 year old indigenous mother of three and grandmother of one – a good choice to run for the Senate?
Comments
43 Comments so far
Nova- peris ..was asked 8years ago to join the labor party ..but declined because she had young children …Its a very wise choice by the PM…
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What about JOHN Fitzgerald & Angry Anderson …Do they exist, if gillard has the right whats ya beef ..I seem to remember that Abbott was pushing for an aboriginal candidate not long ago ….
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I’d question your claim that Ms Peris is a “strong” candidate.
If I was Senator Crossin, I’d be doing everything in my power to rally support of the NT’s rank & file ALP members to thwart the appointment.
If Nova Peris really wants a political career, then she go about it in the same way that everybody else does, via pre-selection. Let the branch members decide who really is the strongest candidate.
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It would appear that the PM’s “appointment” of Ms Peris is not just upsetting ALP branch members. It has been reported that a number of high profile indigenous personalities are not impressed by the tokenism of the appointment. Senator Cameron has come out indicating that he finds the appointment far from impressive.
I would gladly vote for an indigenous female candidate in my area if she won the right to stand via the party pre-selection method.
Ms Peris indicated that she was ready to make this move to Canberra, yet at the first criticism of her high elevation she bursts into tears and cries racist. Not a good start methinks.
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Wow, I actually agree with you Brad, this is a first! As a (white) Labor voter, I think this is tokenism at it’s worst. Since Nova retired as a sportsperson, what has she actually done politically? I couldn’t find anything, let alone anything noteworthy (perhaps because of the nature of NT media, who knows?). But she wasn’t even a card-carrying member of the Labor Party, as far as I can tell. Surely, if the PM wanted an Aboriginal person to represent this seat (which is still tokenism, though I am still open to the idea that affirmitive action only needs one success story), there were more politically engaged people to fill the position. At least Peter Garrett had more credibility as a political activist before he joined the Labor Party – even if his original philosophies were more aligned to The Greens.
I dare anyone to find a skerrick of racism in my opinion.
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It just shows that we have people that make regulations that do not follow it themselves.. What does that say in itself?
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Let’s try to avoid making this about Julia being a woman / female PM as some commenters have done below; rather she is a poor decision maker and disappointing leader generally.
I certaintly know she doesn’t represent the majority of Australian women or their wishes, at least not anymore. Her behaviour should not set other women back.
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Has the labor party ever pre-selected an aboriginal candidate to a winnable seat? If not its a shame that someone had to be “parachuted” in, couldnt the party wait for a vacancy rather than bully out a sitting member?
Not a good look for Julia & labor, not well thought out at all.
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I started 2013 deciding to give Julia Gillard a chance …. I probably lean politically to Labor values, but have just been appalled at Ms Gillard’s modus operandi and political games… I thought, come on, give her a chance. … and then this! Another Labor ‘knifing’. A smiling, smirking Ms Gillard, determined to run roughshod over process and simple human decency. So I’m back to where I started: feeling cynical about this woman Prime Minister, and trying to work out how many days till the next election.
She seems to think that she personally ‘owns’ the Labor party; and the government …
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I live in the NT and this has been a popular topic around the water cooler. Trish is well respected and has worked very hard for the NT. There is a reason why she has secured the nomination election after election.
Nova may be an Olympian but people are not aware of what her contribution to society post sports has been. Her profile is minimal and she has been living outside of the NT for several years. She simply has not earned her community stripes.
Another very important factor is that there are other Aboriginal female women who have declared an interest in standing for selection. The most obvious is Marion Scrymgeour who held cabinet positions in the NT government when the ALP were in power. She is popular, very intelligent, well educated and has solid political experience.
I also cannot believe that the ALP would override the wishes of the NT public and the established processes. Being a Territory we are already second rate citizens whose wishes can be overridden by the whims of the Federal Government [eg Voluntary Euthanasia]. We get legislation dumped on us simply because they can [eg Nuclear Dumping]. Once again our wishes have been overridden in the name of a person chosen on the basis of tokenism rather than merit. Just when the CLP has an extremely unpopular state government and the CLP senators are scrambling to distance themselves from their decisions. I really despair about ALP head office; they really seem determined to sabotage their chances in the next election.
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You make a rather valid point. Nova Peris lives outside of the NT. Why does the ALP constantly select candidates who don’t live in the electorate or state where they are making their run for parliament ?
Over recent years in Qld, we have had a minister representing the working class seat of Woodridge whilst residing on Millionaire’s Row in the posh suburb of Raby Bay. More recently, the ALP gave preselection to a Brisbane based candidate to run for a seat in Central Queensland. The candidate had never lived in the seat. Had never even flown in a plane above the airspace over the seat, and readily admitted that he knew nothing of the industries in the area. He never even got around to visiting the seat to do a spot of handshaking and baby kissing prior to polling day.
I know of a candidate in my area who had to move two streets in order to run for the electorate. It didn’t matter that it was only two streets. He didn’t live in the electorate.
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Nova lived interstate for many years before recently relocating back to the Territory. She says that she is passionate about youth, education and health but I would like to hear her elaborate on this. All well and good to say you have a passion for something but there needs to be some substance. I cannot wait for the day that she is challenged and await her bumbling response. I am a Territorian and have not heard of any of this work she claims to have done. All I hear is that she never appears to stay in any job very long. Just a case of another opportunity being handed to someone who is not worthy. I’m Indigenous and have always voted labour but looks like I’ll be chucking a donkey at the next fed election.
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What wonderful news for Nova! She seems a determined, strong and passionate woman so I hope she will bring positive changes to the NT. I know she has a strong love of the land especially in the NT and obviously strong interest in indigenous issues. I wish her luck!
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Miranda Kerr is a determined, strong and passionate woman, and easy on the eye to boot. Maybe we should pop her name on the ballot paper in a NSW marginal seat. Campaign flyers would be a cinch, just cut ‘n’ paste from a recent David Jones catalogue. Voila!
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now labor just needs a hobbit from middle earth to complete the bridge mending appointments. Then they will all be propped up behind the PM in parliament for the telly cameras, and we will all applaude them for appointing people based upon perception rather than merit. Isnt it wonderful.
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Just a reminder to all the political pundits gathering here .. unless you are living in the federal seat of Lalor, you don’t GET to vote for or against Julia Gillard. You do, however, have to choose between the Australian Labor Party or the Liberal National Party, by voting for that party’s candidate in YOUR electorate.
Your personal hatred towards the Prime Minister is actually irrelevant, unless it influences you so much that you feel you must vote for a party currently standing in opposition to the ALP.
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If you’re going to get technical, you choose between whoever nominates themselves as independents and from other parties, not just between ALP and LNP. And then you number the candidates in the order you see fit.
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I actually feel sorry for Nova. If she’s overcome by emotion in being selected for the job, how is she going to survive political life in the ALP? Does she know what she’s getting herself into?
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While I do feel sorry for Senator Crossin, that’s politics, pre-selection battles are often nasty and had the situation been reversed I’m sure she would’ve behaved in exactly the same way. From all accounts it sounds like Nova Peris has been an excellent advocate for her community and increasing Indigenous participation in parliament is not only a smart thing for the ALP to do, but it’s a good thing too.
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I agree Indigenous participation is great thing for parliament, but i’m not sure Nova is the right candidate. I live in Darwin and I’m hearing about all this “community” work she’s be doing for the NT- thats untrue. WHY has Marian Scrymgour, another Indigenous female who was running against Crossin been completely overlooked?
Scrymgour has the political experience and has been a very active and vocal community advocate for Indigenous issues over many years.
I’m a Labor supporter and I’m so disappointed with Gillard. I really think its tokenism. Feels like Gillard thinks we’re uncapable of nominating for our own Senator, feeling pretty ripped off!
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While I am an admirer of Nova Peris’ sporting achievements, I think her appointment in this manner is incredibly wrong.
The PM is yet again serving her own interests and her shameful and backhanded dismissal of the long serving Ms Crossin is a disgrace.
There has been no advice of Nova’s qualifications to perform her role effectively and the only criteria here appears to be race. Which I find insulting and demeaning.
As for celebrities in general being touted out as political candidates – well, you’d have to be crazy not to feel the burning disappointment (pun intended) in Peter Garrett’s tenure in office. What an ineffectual sell out.
As for Maxine McKew – I found her book and revelations regarding the PMs ruthless knifing of Kevin Rudd very illuminating, she clearly outlined where Ms Gillard had not been truthful in her recounting of events as well.
How can the electorate trust this PM, when members of her own cabinet cannot?
Honestly, if Julia Gillard told me the sky was blue… I’d have to look up and check for myself!
There is nothing she could say to entice me to vote for her – because I don’t believe a word she says anymore.
What an incredible disappointment and opportunity squandered – instead of feeling proud of the achievements of our first female PM I feel nothing but disgust and it just keeps getting worse.
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Wow. I wasn’t going to comment because political discussion has a habit of getting nasty, but GREAT COMMENT!!!
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Absolutely – that our worst ever PM is a woman is appalling & sets the rest us back a decade – shame on you Ms Gillard
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How does Julia Gillard set the rest of us back a decade?
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So, the fact that she comprehensively won the leadership challenge last year by Kevin Rudd means her cabinet doesn’t trust her? Interesting.
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Spin over merit once again ALP! When will they realize that both policy and people are best selected on the basis of merit rather than the propensity for pr? I am so tired of this government chasing headlines instead of demonstrating good governance.
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When will the ALP realize that both policies and politicians should be selected on the basis of merit and not potential for SPIN? It’s all about PR and not good governance and I am really disillusioned by it.
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I understand that Nova has been doing very good things for her community, however, I think it actually diminishes her accomplishments as it just looks like she’s being used to save Julia Gillard’s skin. There are processes – Nova wasn’t even a member of the Labor Party.
Makes me question, yet again, Julia Gillard’s loyalty and honesty as a person. She has just screwed Ms Crossin’s career, not because she didn’t do a good job but merely for a political agenda.
I think Julia Gillard needs to lose her little spin dr from Britain, Mr McTernan, he just seems to be an evil and manipulative person who’s making Gillard look even worse than she did before. It has been said he was the one behind the Australia Day debacle last year and the silly misogyny speech (which was carefully written and practiced purely for political points). Apparently he tried to create a gender war in Britain too!
I voted for Julia Gillard last time, never again.
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It’s like watching a reality show:
Celebrity MasterPollies
Biggest MP Losers
Who wants to be a Politican?
Labor wants a Celeb Senator
Survivor: Canberra
Tack-o-rama Julia.
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Not sure I agree with Maxine being largely invisible for her three years in parliament.
That said, she was certainly screwed in the 2010 election.
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I am looking forward to an emu, kangaroo or Glenn McGrath get tapped on the shoulder next.
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A well written, in-depth political news report.
Nova Peris wasn’t, up to yesterday, even a member of Labor party.
Symbolism aside, I have concerns if she is qualified for such position of national importance.
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Why do you have to highlight that she is indigenous or a grandmother? It is irrelevant as to how she’ll do her job vs Ms Crossin. Classic case of reverse discrimination.
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Anonymous, the point of the article is that people are being asked (or aksed, refer to the first comment here) to run for the senate for reasons of celebrity. Ms Peris raised her aboriginality during the press conference yesterday, the mere mention of her being an original Australian is not discriminatory.
It is also not discriminatory to mention her as a grandmother. I am sure, like all the rest of us who are grandmothers she is happy about this fact.
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I think you will find that it is reverse discrimination to choose one candidate (Nova) over another (Trish) because of their colour/race being the minority. It’s like a company appointing a member of a minority group (e.g. gay, female, African etc) to a board over a more suitably qualified person as a point or to show they are diverse/ contemporary.
I am thrilled for her privately if she’s grandma and enjoys that (also for you as well). I just find it ridiculous how female politicians personal lives are scrutinised way more often than male politicians. E.g. Julia Gillard being unmarried, Penny Wong being lesbian and a mother etc. Male politician’s personal lives are generally more private except when PR is needed, for example Abbott’s daughters. I don’t; get why it has to be mentioned, We don’t even know if she’s been a good, supportive, involved grandmother or mother in her time. Why mention it at all? It doesn’t mean she’ll be a good representative on that basis. Plenty of people are grandparents. Doesn’t mean they’d be a good teacher, nurse, lawyer, politican, bus driver, postman or anything in particular. Just means that they have a child who had a child.
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So you would be okay with someone having a significant influence within our Government without actually knowing anything about them?
It’s part of their job to disclose their lives. Mamamia was providing background which is actually quite effective in filling out the blanks.
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Actually Anonymous, I think we are in agreement. I do agree that there is a difference between the way politician’s private lives are disclosed depending on their sex. And I do think the appointment of Ms Peris over the incumbent and by forces outside of the NT Labor party and despite the fact that she is NOT a Labor Party member smacks of a particularly insidious form of discrimination and of the type of obvious political game playing that the average member of the public hates. It is not enough to appoint an original Australian woman to the Senate race, as if this is a big deal, and yet continue to ignore the plight of the majority of marginalised women, particularly women of color in this country who live in poverty.
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Actually, Anonymous, the fact that she is indigenous is not insignificant at all. The PM made it very clear that her aboriginal heritage was huge factor in her selection as she would be the first indigenous MP in Australian history.
Gillard said, “I want her to be the first Aboriginal woman to sit in the Federal Parliament.”
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She will definitely not be the first indigenous MP in Australian history, only the first female indigenous MP for Labour http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indigenous_Australians_in_politics_and_public_service.
Also Warren Mundine (an Aboriginal labour representative who was supposed to be a certainty for the position) was overlooked as the minister for Foreign Affairs when Bob Carr was parachuted in last time they had a slump in the polls… seems like they are only attempting to use her celebrity to win votes.
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Neville Bonner was the first indigenous MP, he was a liberal party candidate in the 70′s and early 80′s. So, while it is great that the indigenous population are represented within the labor party, (and yes she is the first indigenous WOMAN), most Australians are probably more interested in her ability to get her job done, (assuming she gets voted in, which is not a certainty.)
Personally, I find it a bit condescending – Aboriginal Australians were being well represented by Trish Crossin, by all accounts. To hire someone for the colour of their skin, which is in her own words what Ms Gillard has done, is offensive. Nova is surely smart and capable enough to be considered for a political station by her chosen party without relying on her skin colour.
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I think Nova Peris would probably be a decent Senator, what I object to is the removal of a senator (Trish Crossin) who appears to be doing her job well and is likely to be re-elected. Furthermore she was removed by people outside of the Northern Territory.
I am a bit if a Julia fan (or I was) but politicians must understand that these machinations do nothing to endear them to the general voter.
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I used to be a Julia advocate (pre-2010). Now you couldn’t pay me to vote for her. This is probably the dumbest decision she’s ever made (re NP). Tokenism spun as inclusivism or ‘representational diversity’ is as bad as racial discrimination. Vagina? Check. Indigenous? Check. I guess Cathy Freeman and Deborah Mailman weren’t available/ interested. Or maybe they were just insulted.
I heard Nova Peris speak on ABC this morning and she said it was ‘an honour to be aksed.’ Yes. Aksed.
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Absolutely agree. The only thing I’d add is to correct ‘most likely become ..’
Dreaming or delusional, mm team. Not a snowball’s chance.
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