INDIGENOUS Labor Party members in the Northern Territory are planning to flood the party's national executive with nominations for the top Senate spot, in protest at the prime minister's intervention in the preselection process.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who last week endorsed Olympian Nova Peris as the ALP's top pick on the NT Senate ticket, effectively shut out rank-and-file members from the decision-making process.
ALP member and Senate pre-selection candidate Marion Scrymgour told AAP that Aboriginal members in the NT intended to protest against the prime minister's decision.
"Applications are going to be sent to the national executive before the deadline today by Aboriginal members of the ALP," Ms Scrymgour said.
"The move is a protest and a signal to the national executive and prime minister that we don't accept what she has done.
"There will be a flood (of applications).
"Word has got out. I couldn't give you an exact number."
Ms Scrymgour, an Aboriginal woman who has a long history in NT politics, said she knew her application was futile but she would be sending it anyway.
"It has made me cranky and insulted that she (Ms Gillard) could think that all Aboriginal people need is a sport star," she said.
If all Ms Gillard wanted was a "black face" in parliament to represent the ALP, there were plenty of choices in the party, she said.
Ms Scrymgour said she wasn't preselected because she had spoken out against the federal intervention in Aboriginal communities that has been supported by the ALP since it was introduced by a coalition government.
Aboriginal ALP member from Alice Springs, Des Rogers, told ABC Radio he would also protest by nominating for the pre-selection ballot.
"Just to let people know in Canberra that for one, there is one indigenous person in the Territory that's been a long-term Labor member, has campaign experience, and I've nominated," he said.
Another prominent indigenous ALP politician in the NT, Karl Hampton, has also signalled he will lodge an application.
The party's national executive, made up of federal MPs including the prime minister, the party's national president Jenny McAllister and others, will decide representation on the NT ticket.
The national executive is expected to announce on Tuesday that Ms Peris has been officially installed as the party's top Senate pick.
Given the voting patterns of the NT, she would be a virtual certainty to be elected to office.
Current NT senator for the ALP Trish Crossin has also spoken out against the prime minister's backing of Ms Peris.
On Monday, a spokeswoman for Senator Crossin said the senator would be in Darwin for Tuesday's decision and would be making a statement afterwards.
A spokesman for Ms Peris said he was aware of reports a number of people were planning to apply for the Senate nomination, but he did not know who had done so.
He said Ms Peris was very excited ahead of Tuesday's decision.
"She is hopeful she will get the preselection and is looking forward to the challenge," he said.
Ms Peris will make a statement in Darwin after the preselection announcement.
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