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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Nova Peris accepts apology from man who abused her on Facebook Nova Peris accepts apology from man who abused her on Facebook | |
| (4 months later) | |
| Nova Peris has accepted an apology from a NSW man who posted an expletive-laden racist tirade to the Facebook page of the outgoing Northern Territory senator two months ago. | Nova Peris has accepted an apology from a NSW man who posted an expletive-laden racist tirade to the Facebook page of the outgoing Northern Territory senator two months ago. |
| NSW central coast chiropractor Chris Nelson, 64, also a former NSW Liberal party branch secretary, was charged in June over the abuse. | NSW central coast chiropractor Chris Nelson, 64, also a former NSW Liberal party branch secretary, was charged in June over the abuse. |
| Peris says she accepts an apology from Nelson and considers it to be “genuine and remorseful”, she wrote on Twitter. | Peris says she accepts an apology from Nelson and considers it to be “genuine and remorseful”, she wrote on Twitter. |
| “I hope he reconciles [with] his family,” she said. | “I hope he reconciles [with] his family,” she said. |
| Apology from Chris Nelson:I accept it & consider it 2 b genuine & remorseful. I hope he reconciles w/ his family. pic.twitter.com/MEcq03tfEL | Apology from Chris Nelson:I accept it & consider it 2 b genuine & remorseful. I hope he reconciles w/ his family. pic.twitter.com/MEcq03tfEL |
| In his apology, dated 5 July, Nelson said his Facebook post on 28 May brought “far reaching consequences to Ms Peris, the indigenous community, the Australian people and shame to myself and my family”. | In his apology, dated 5 July, Nelson said his Facebook post on 28 May brought “far reaching consequences to Ms Peris, the indigenous community, the Australian people and shame to myself and my family”. |
| “My outburst of malicious foul language is inexcusable and on reflection I cannot believe that I was responsible. I cannot explain my action.” | “My outburst of malicious foul language is inexcusable and on reflection I cannot believe that I was responsible. I cannot explain my action.” |
| Nelson pleaded guilty in June to one count of using a carriage service to offend and was handed an eight-month suspended sentence. | Nelson pleaded guilty in June to one count of using a carriage service to offend and was handed an eight-month suspended sentence. |
| He was arrested and charged in late May over a comment on the former Northern Territory senator’s Facebook page that told her to “go back to the bush and suck on witchity grubs and yams”. | He was arrested and charged in late May over a comment on the former Northern Territory senator’s Facebook page that told her to “go back to the bush and suck on witchity grubs and yams”. |
| The post also said that Peris was “only endorsed by Juliar [Julia Gillard] because [she was] black”, and criticised her for wearing white ochre on her face during her 2013 maiden speech. | The post also said that Peris was “only endorsed by Juliar [Julia Gillard] because [she was] black”, and criticised her for wearing white ochre on her face during her 2013 maiden speech. |
| Peris shared a screenshot of the offensive post on her Facebook page on 28 May with the comment: “#Racism – it stops with me.” | Peris shared a screenshot of the offensive post on her Facebook page on 28 May with the comment: “#Racism – it stops with me.” |
| “I’ll continue to wear ochre on my face just like my people have done for thousands of years! My skin is my pride,” she wrote in a comment responding to Nelson. | “I’ll continue to wear ochre on my face just like my people have done for thousands of years! My skin is my pride,” she wrote in a comment responding to Nelson. |
| “P.S. Never had a witchy grub. I’m coastal, the mangrove worms are delicious & the yams are amazing.” She concluded her comment with a peace-sign emoji. | “P.S. Never had a witchy grub. I’m coastal, the mangrove worms are delicious & the yams are amazing.” She concluded her comment with a peace-sign emoji. |
| Peris was hand-picked by then prime minister Julia Gillard in 2013 to become the first Indigenous woman to be elected to Australia’s federal parliament. | Peris was hand-picked by then prime minister Julia Gillard in 2013 to become the first Indigenous woman to be elected to Australia’s federal parliament. |
| Nelson had been the secretary of the Woy Woy branch of the Liberal party until he was expelled from the party after the allegations were first made. | Nelson had been the secretary of the Woy Woy branch of the Liberal party until he was expelled from the party after the allegations were first made. |
| He initially claimed he had been “the victim of a really horrible and extremely vicious hacking”. | He initially claimed he had been “the victim of a really horrible and extremely vicious hacking”. |
| “I’m definitely not a racist,” he told the Central Coast Gosford Express Advocate last month. “I’ve got friends who are Aboriginal and family who are Aboriginal.” | “I’m definitely not a racist,” he told the Central Coast Gosford Express Advocate last month. “I’ve got friends who are Aboriginal and family who are Aboriginal.” |
| He said he had received death threats as a result of the publicity, and his business name had been “trashed by the online haters”, potentially fast-tracking his plans to retire. | He said he had received death threats as a result of the publicity, and his business name had been “trashed by the online haters”, potentially fast-tracking his plans to retire. |