Northern Territory senator Nova Peris has broken down in tears as she asked Australians not to judge her harshly for her decision to walk away from politics.
The former athlete says the decision to leave was a difficult one but she wants to spend more time with her children, the youngest of whom is 12.
"Three years ago, I walked into parliament as the first Aboriginal woman, and until you are an Aboriginal person do not criticise me for the decisions I have made," she said.
"I may be leaving but I am leaving on my terms, and I want to make this clear - no-one should judge me."
The 45-year-old Olympian said she was a proud, strong and resilient Aboriginal woman.
"It's not easy to wake up every morning and bounce out of bed and pretend that life is fantastic, because it isn't," she said.
"Aboriginal people have no inherited wealth, they have inherited pain."
Senator Peris said wherever she went next, she hoped she would be able to continue inspiring indigenous people and young Australians to "get out and live their dreams".
Labor leader Bill Shorten was by her side, and said she'd been a champion for indigenous people, women and Territorians.
"The fact that she is prioritising her family at this point in her life also reflects another attribute which she is too modest to say, but I want to put on the record: I reckon Nova Peris is a great mum as well," he said.
The timing of the announcement has been questioned, coming on the heels of revelations on Monday night, after the electoral rolls closed, that Ms Peris may be seeking an indigenous advisory role with the AFL.
Mr Shorten said 24 or 25 other parliamentarians have announced their retirements in the past few weeks since the election was called.
But he acknowledged Senator Peris' announcement had come late and taken the party by surprise.
When asked why she didn't make a decision sooner, Senator Peris replied: "I didn't call the election".
When asked whether Territorians deserved a better explanation for her departure, she said: "I'm sure you don't go around every day justifying the things that you do ... I am a politician but I am also human."
Attention has now turned to who will be selected by Labor's national executive as her replacement.
Former NT Labor government minister and journalist Malarndirri McCarthy has said she is nominating for the spot and Ms Peris's chief-of-staff Ursula Raymond is also considering her options.
Former NT minister Kon Vatskalis, who resigned in 2014, has also indicated his interest.
Mr Shorten said he expected a decision to be made by the end of the weekend.
