Nova Peris was chosen as senator for the Northern Territory just to give Labor credibility in bringing indigenous Australians into its ranks, former ALP national president Warren Mundine says.
Mr Mundine said for Senator Peris to now let down her team and quit after just three years shows what a mistake her appointment was.
"At the time I thought it was important that the Labor Party did make a stand in this area," Mr Mundine told the Bolt Program on Sky News on Tuesday.
Senator Peris, a gold medal-winning Olympian, was chosen by former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard in a "captain's pick" at the 2013 election, becoming the first female indigenous federal politician.
Mr Mundine said Labor had no credibility when it claimed to be the party for Aboriginal people.
"It never, ever actually preselected Aboriginal people in winnable seats," he said.
"When you look at some of the people that they actually put in parliament, you wouldn't feed half of them, they were so hopeless."
Yet there were many credible Aboriginal candidates, he said.
The Liberal Party had embraced a number of standout indigenous MPs including Ken Wyatt, Neville Bonner and Bess Price.
"You wonder what are the problems with the Labor Party in this area," he said.
Senator Peris replaced then Labor Senator Trish Crossin, who Mr Mundine said was caught up in the crazy politics of the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd period.
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