Nova Peris a ‘great Australian’: Shorten

Labor leader Bill Shorten has offered an emphatic defence of embattled Senator Nova Peris, describing her as a “great Australian”.

Ms Peris has been accused of seeking to misuse taxpayer funds in 2010 to bring Trinidad and Tobago sprinter Ato Boldon to Australia to engage in an affair.

The claims were reported in the NT News this morning and have been categorically denied by Ms Peris and Boldon.

Mr Shorten did not comment directly on the matter but offered an unambiguous defence of the Northern Territory senator.

“She is a great Australian,” he said.

“She has done remarkable things in her athletics career, but I think even more significantly, for the Northern Territory and indigenous Australians.”

Mr Shorten said Ms Peris had his support and that of the Labor caucus.