Former Northern Territory politician Bess Price has hit out at anti-Australia Day activists for fuelling cyber hate towards her daughter after she pushed to keep the national holiday on January 26.
Indigenous Alice Springs councillor Jacinta Price has been targeted on social media since she helped former federal Labor leader Mark Latham launch a "Save Australia Day" ad campaign against those arguing it should be moved to a less contentious date.
In a Facebook post, Bess Price said the online vitriol directed at her daughter for "having a different opinion to those who want to remain in their victimhood mentality" was "disgusting".
"I'm appalled," she wrote. "All the 'Welcome to Country', all the 'smoking ceremonies' and all the made up bullshit rituals about 'pay our respects to elders past and present' is just one big lie! Shame shame shame!"
She criticised indigenous Australians for bringing their fellow countrymen down, taking aim at former deputy NT chief minister Marion Scrymgour.
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Ms Scrymgour has suggested Jacinta Price is preparing to enter federal parliament to replace Nigel Scullion as an NT senator, and stressed that opposing voices "shouldn't be quiet".
"The voices in the communities that she continually bad mouths should have a voice too. She is a dud and our mob can see through that," Ms Scrymgour said in a Facebook post.
The Greens are actively throwing their support behind changing the commemoration, which leader Richard Di Natale says has been divisive and painful for many.
But Jacinta Price and fellow indigenous leader Warren Mundine argue Aboriginal people in remote communities have bigger issues to worry about.
"It is education, jobs, it is to get business activity happening, and to get better healthcare," Mr Mundine said.
"If the Greens were fair dinkum they would concentrate on these issues rather than something that is not going to make a difference to anyone."
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull expressed his disappointment about the latest push to change Australia Day, noting a free country debates its history and does not deny it.
"We recognise that the history of European settlement here in Australia has been complex and tragic for indigenous Australians," he said.
"Australia Day is a day to come together."
