Federal election 2016: Nova Peris defends decision to quit Senate

Nova Peris says she’s departing politics to be with her family, brushing aside the timing of her decision to quit politics.

An emotional Nova Peris has defended her decision to retire from the Senate during an election campaign, warning her critics not to judge her for her actions.

Senator Peris said she was departing politics to spend more time with her family, and brushed aside questions about the unusual timing of her resignation by saying she did not pick the July 2 polling date.

At doorstop with Bill Shorten in Darwin, the outgoing Labor Senator — who was fighting back tears — repeatedly said she should not be judged for leaving and emphasised the hardship endured by the aboriginal people.

“Until you are an aboriginal person, do not criticise me for the decisions I have made,” she said. “This wasn’t easy. It’s hard.”

“I may be leaving but I’m leaving on my terms. And I want to make this clear. No-one should judge me ... It’s not easy to wake up every morning and bounce out of bed and pretend that life is fantastic because it isn’t.”

“Aboriginal people have no inherited wealth. They have inherited pain. But we have a vision ... the door that has now been opened by me exiting I wish that person well. And I know that their time in parliament will make a significant difference.”

“This decision I have made has been on family and I have to look after my family and my children ... I hope you respect the decisions I have made.”

An emotional Nova Peris speaking alongside @billshortenmp in Darwin pic.twitter.com/b9uLG1rOXW

— Liz Burke (@lizeburke) May 26, 2016

The Opposition Leader said the fact the former Olympian was prioritising her family reflected the fact she was a “great mum” and a champion in the parliament as well as on the athletic track.

“She is a remarkable Australian. The Labor Party have been fortunate to have her energy and commitment in the last three years in the Senate,” he said. “I wish Nova, my friend, the very best in the future.”

Earlier in the morning, Mr Shorten used an address on National Sorry Day to say the longest election campaign in 50 years should be used to throw a focus on issues that were too often overlooked and foster a broader debate on closing the gap.

He said it was a chance to “put the national spotlight on issues” ground down by the “tyranny of low expectations”, saying Australia sent more aboriginal men to jail than university and aboriginal women were 34 times more likely to be hospitalised by family violence and 11 times more likely to die.

“Until the fair go is truly colour blind, Sorry Day will always reminded us that there is further to go, and more to do.”