Crossin angered by PM's push for Peris

Labor Senator Trish Crossin has accused Julia Gillard of undermining the ALP's processes after she was dumped by the prime minister to make way for Olympian Nova Peris.

Ms Gillard wants Ms Peris to become the first indigenous woman in the federal parliament, saying she's been troubled about the federal Labor's lack of indigenous representation.

She has used her 'captain's pick' to ask ALP leaders to put the former hockey star first on the Senate ticket in the Northern Territory.

Senator Crossin, who has been in parliament for 15 years, told reporters in Sydney she was told of the plan to oust her only on Monday evening.

'This announcement by the prime minister today totally undermines (the selection) process and undermines the right of members in the NT to preselect whom they will want,' she said.

Gillard's words make clear that, were Crossin an indigenous Australian, she would not have lost her job. According to the Racial Discrimination Act, it is unlawful to dismiss someone by reason of race, colour or national or ethnic origin.