Nova Peris wins NT Senate pre-selection

Olympian Nova Peris is set be endorsed for the top spot on Labor's NT Senate ticket. Source: AAP

NOVA Peris has officially won pre-selection to run as a Labor Senate candidate in the Northern Territory.

The ALP national executive confirmed the Olympic athlete had been pre-selected on Tuesday, prevailing over four other candidates.

"It's a vote of confidence I am determined to live up to," Ms Peris told reporters in Darwin.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard personally drafted Ms Peris, causing tension in the party because she effectively dumped sitting NT Labor senator Trish Crossin.

Ms Peris said it had been a tough period for her, after accusations of misusing government funds for a girl's academy she champions and revelations she was picked up for drink-driving in the ACT.

"The personal attacks have been hurtful," she said. "But over the years as an athlete I've got thick skin."

She said it was the process by which she was chosen that had caused anger, but she didn't believe many people would refuse an offer from the prime minister to represent their people.

"Just being asked in the first place was a huge honour," she said.

ALP national secretary George Wright said Ms Peris would be a strong representative for the Northern Territory and for indigenous Australians if elected to the Senate later this year, as expected.

"Nova's record of achievement in sport is well known to many Australians," Mr Wright said in a statement.

"Importantly, what she also brings to this role is a strong record of work, commitment and achievement in improving, health and education outcomes for indigenous kids."

Mr Wright said it was inconsistent with Labor's values and its proud record of commitment to indigenous Australians that the party had never been represented in the federal parliament by an indigenous Australian.

Ms Peris said she was a proud Territorian.

"This is my home, always was, always will be," she said.

"I'm a Cyclone Tracy survivor, a genuine product of territory success and toughness."

The Olympic gold medallist said as a young girl she had dreamt big and succeeded when everyone else said she could not.

"There is no stronger message for young kids in disadvantaged communities than to see one of their own succeed," she said.

"That, if nothing else, is one of the great values of my preselection."

Ms Peris said to tackle indigenous problems, the NT needed the right programs, put together and run by the right people with full engagement of the those they were designed to help.

Before the election she will meet as many people as possible to help her develop a plan to break the cycle of disparity for Aboriginal communities in the Territory.

"This is where I feel I can play a key role," she said.

As a single mother and a former housing commission tenant, Ms Peris says she understands what the average Australian is up against.

"I'm not blind to our problems and I aim to be part of our solutions," she said.

"I know there is a lot to learn and I may make mistakes but ultimately I want people to judge me on what I can deliver for my fellow Territorians."

Ms Peris said she had worked hard to provide educational support for Aboriginal girls through her academies, raised awareness of depression and sought to tackle alcohol and drug issues.

"I am Nova Peris," she said.

"Being the best Nova Peris is all I've ever aspired to be.

"I'm not perfect. I've made mistakes but I'll try to pursue excellence at all times."

People within Labor had approached her and asked for help, Ms Peris said.

"I've never gone out of my way and said 'pick me'," she said.

Asked if she thought being hand-picked by the prime minister would make it difficult to oppose Ms Gillard in the future, she said: "Not at all".

The hostility within NT Labor around her preselection signalled there is much to do bringing the party together, Ms Peris said.

"There's a lot of groundwork to be done and I've said yes, I'm ready for the challenges.

"Once the dust settles, I'm looking forward to the future."

Her introduction to politics had been tougher than expected but Ms Peris said she was determined to help Labor to an election win later this year.

"I didn't win two gold medals in two different sports by pretending that nothing was easy in life," she said.

"I'm up for the challenges. I'll be working with the right people.

"I've worked in government in Canberra, and I've seen how policies have come about. I've seen failed policies. I've seen billions of dollars just get wasted down the drain."

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