PM's clumsy handling spoils a shining moment

230113 nova perris

THE Labor Party has taken far too long to preselect an indigenous Australian for a winnable seat in federal parliament.

Julia Gillard's decision to shoehorn Olympic hockey gold medallist Nova Peris into an all but certain Senate seat representing the Northern Territory should be welcomed.

But, like almost anything the Prime Minister does, it has been managed in a hamfisted way that has caused division in the party and sullied what should be a shining, if belated, moment for Labor.

Labor has a proud history of striving to lift indigenous Australians out of disadvantage, from Gough Whitlam handing the lease of crown land to Vincent Lingiari at Wattie Creek to Paul Keating's Mabo legislation and Kevin Rudd's apology and closing the gap policies.

But Labor has failed to welcome into its federal parliamentary ranks a representative of our ancient indigenous cultures.

Peris may be a fine senator who makes a great contribution to public life, but so-called celebrity candidates almost always fail as they are not accustomed to the rough and tumble of politics, the tribal nature of the party and its internal workings.

They often fail to understand that bending principles and compromising is necessary in politics.

It is also a decision that most Labor Party members will loathe.

As the 2010 review of the party by Labor senator John Faulkner and former premiers Steve Bracks and Bob Carr found, using the national executive to bypass a preselection by party members should only be "a last resort".

"Preselection processes," the report said, "are critical to the integrity of the party."

Gillard should have supported Peris but demanded she join the party and contest a preselection.

Instead, sitting Labor senator Trish Crossin has been dumped by Gillard in an ugly fashion and the party's members have been blindsided.

Labor members deserved better.

And so did Peris.