Labor senator and Olympic gold medallist Nova Peris says Swans star Adam Goodes is speaking up for Indigenous people by telling his story, and has condemned the boos directed at him.
Peris, who was the first Indigenous Australian to win an Olympic gold medal, told SEN radio on Wednesday that Australia still has "racist policies" and leaders who "shoot from the hip and make stupid comments".
And echoing the sentiment of former Swan Michael O'Loughlin, she said that as someone with a prominent position in society, Goodes, like Peris herself, has a responsibility to tell his story.
"We do have the opportunity to shine a light on black Australia," she said, adding that doing so made people uncomfortable.
"We have a history in this country and the wounds are still open.
"And you take a risk telling that story because the truth makes people uncomfortable."
Peris said Goodes "continually gives back" to the community, and that was why he was named Australian of the Year.
"He's a role model," she said.
"My family are all avid AFL supporters, my son has ambitions of playing in the AFL, he's been really hurt by this [the booing]."
She said Goodes' treatment was equivalent to workplace bullying.
"My criticisms come in the forms of email and Facebook posts and you can just delete, delete, delete ... for Adam Goodes it's workplace bullying and no one should have to put up with that rubbish."
"As someone who represented Australia for 13 years in different sports, for me, the racism that I endured in my sporting time was here in Australia," she said. "When you're an international athlete there is nothing but respect in terms of your performance on the field."
Yet when playing in the hockey championships in Australia, Peris said the opposition would often refuse to shake her hand at the end of a game.
"They would turn away and say, 'I'm not shaking that black bitch's hand'," she said.
"These are hurtful remarks and Adam Goodes, he wears the Sydney Swans jersey with a lot of pride, but he wears an Aboriginal mouthguard because he constantly wants to remind himself of what he represents.
"Again people are telling us how to behave and celebrate our culture. Our culture has values and that is what Adam is doing."
