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‪'‎Racism‬ stops with me': Senator smacks down bigotted troll

Northern Territory's Labor senator called out a racist online troll who gave her a mouthful just days after tearfully announcing she was retiring from politics.

Senator Nova Peris was hand-picked by then Prime Minister Julia Gillard in 2013 to became the first Indigenous woman to be elected to Australia's federal parliament.

Senator Nova Peris gave a short but tearful speech announcing her retirement from politics on Thursday. Photo: AAP
Senator Nova Peris gave a short but tearful speech announcing her retirement from politics on Thursday. Photo: AAP

On Saturday, a Facebook user who goes by the name of Chris Nelson, went on a vicious rant calling Ms Peris a "black c***" and telling her to "go back to the bush."

"Nova F*** off. You were only endorsed by Juliar(sic) because you were a black c***," the man wrote.

"Go back to the bush and suck on witchity grubs and yams. Stop painting your f***ing face with white s*** in parliament."

"Other than being a runner you are nothing."

The witty senator was quick with a response and began by saying, "Racism 'stops with me'."

"Be easy to block and delete your comment Sir Chris Nelson but i'll leave it there to continue to show the ugly side of this country as I have always done!" Ms Peris said.

"You must have had a terrible life Chris to continue as an ADULT spitting such vile and racist hatred towards a fellow human being."

"I'll continue to wear ochre on my face just like my people have done for thousands of years! My skin is my pride. Happy Reconciliation Australia Week mate."

Ms Peris finished off her witticism by commenting she was "coastal" and never had a witchity grub and instead spoke of how "amazing" mangrove worms and yams are.

The racist online troll's rant didn't stop.
The racist online troll's rant didn't stop.
Senator Nova Peris (right) wipes her eyes as Bill Shorten looks on during a press conference in Darwin. Photo: AAP/Mick Tsikas
Senator Nova Peris (right) wipes her eyes as Bill Shorten looks on during a press conference in Darwin. Photo: AAP/Mick Tsikas

But the malicious troll didn't stop here, he continued his rant claiming she would have been raped by her own father if it weren't for the "non-existent stolen generation."

"Why don't you go and spend some time at Arrakun with the rest of your a** mates belting the crap out of one another," the troll wrote.

"I am not sorry for what has happened in the past if it wasn't for the non existent stolen generation you would probably have been raped by your father another male relative or worse still been killed."

"So as I've said before f*** off you black c*** we don't need or want you."

The Rotary Down Under club tweeted Ms Peris saying Nelson was an ex member of the club and his comments did not represent them.

"Hi Nova we just wanted to apologise to you. Chris is an ex member of Rotary & his horrible comments do not represent us," the tweet read.

Nelson's racist profanities come five days after Ms Peris made a tearful statement to the media saying she was stepping down from her position as Labor's top Senate candidate for NT, claiming she was putting first.

Ms Peris said she had never envisaged being a career politician and decided to quit at the July 2 election after talking to her family.

"As the first Aboriginal female in federal politics ... I certainly had challenges, but none that I couldn't handle or was not prepared for, having already lived a very public and documented life," she said in a statement.

Labor leader Bill Shorten said the party would go through its selection processes in coming days.

"Nova Peris is a distinguished Territorian and distinguished indigenous Australian," he said.

"She achieved history in the Senate and on the running track."

Bill Shorten said Nova Peris 'achieved history in the Senate and on the running track.' Photo: AAP
Bill Shorten said Nova Peris 'achieved history in the Senate and on the running track.' Photo: AAP

Suggestions that Senator Peris had been sacked were "complete rubbish", Mr Shorten said.

It is understood the Olympian and first Aboriginal woman in federal parliament is being considered to replace the AFL's head of diversity Jason Mifsud.

One name being mentioned as the replacement is journalist Malarndirri McCarthy, who represented Arnhem in the NT Assembly from 2005 to 2012.

Ms McCarthy achieved almost 74 per cent of the two-party preferred vote at the 2005 election and was appointed families minister.

News break – May 29