The move follows former Prime Minister Julia Gillard's invitation to Peris earlier this year to join the Australian Labor Party and stand as a candidate for the Senate in the Northern Territory.

The former Hockeyroo's pre-selection was subsequently endorsed by the Party Executive 19 votes to two and her name was placed on the Labour senate ticket.

With 40 per cent of ballots vote counted Labour had 31.51 per cent of the vote, Peris took one of the two seats available.

She is only the fourth indigenous person to sit in Parliament House.

Peris switched from hockey to athletics in 1997 and went on to become a double Commonwealth Games gold medallist, winning the 200 metres and 4x100m relay at Kuala Lumpur 1998.

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