Former senator and Olympian Nova Peris [feature image] has initiated defamation proceedings against politician Jacinta Price.
As reported in the Sydney Morning Herald, Peris is suing Price over comments made on Channel 10’s morning chat show Studio 10 last year.
During a debate about changing the date of Australia Day – which also included television personality Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Greens MP Lidia Thorpe – Peris alleges Price made defamatory comments.
“We need to start condemning the perpetrators and we know within Aboriginal Australia there are powerful men who have made it to powerful positions who have never been condemned … Nova Peris has been involved with these particular people,” Price said, according to a transcript lodged in court.
“A lot of Indigenous leaders have been involved, there’s been one in the news recently, he has managed, he’s a known rapist, who has managed to make it to a powerful position and none of us in the Indigenous community have stood up and condemned these people, we have allowed them to continue on their paths.”
Peris claims the comments levelled at her by Price carried a defamatory meaning. She also claims the statements conveyed that she “turned a blind eye to sexual violence against women”, that she “supported rapists to achieve positions of power”, and that she was a “callous person that ignored victims”.
Peris is also taking action against Price for retweeting a Studio 10 tweet.
Price is yet to file a defence in court.
