Nova Peris says she was blackmailed over Ato Boldon emails Northern Territory Senator Nova Peris says the leaked emails were part of a long-running family dispute, and she denies any wrongdoing. NT Labor senator Nova Peris has denied wrongdoing amid claims she sought taxpayer funds during an affair. Breaking silence ... Labor Senator and Olympic athlete Nova Peris addresses the Senate over the allegations that threaten her career. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Corp Australia SENATOR Nova Peris, the target of a nasty leaked email campaign, today revealed she was caught up in a blackmail attempt involving a custody dispute. She told the Senate she had been warned that unless she paid money and relented on points in the dispute the emails would be released. Senator Peris was controlled and methodical as she endured what she dismissed as "one of those days." But she told senators: "The release and publication of these emails is an attempt to extract money and embarrass me and my family." Senator Peris was this week rocked by the appearance of several 2010 emails, said to have been sent before she entered Parliament and which suggested she wanted Olympian Ato Boldon to visit Australia to promote athletics as a love interest. Today she told the Chamber that on October 19 "the aggrieved party in the financial estate and child access dispute" told her he had a folder of information related to the 2010 visit by the Trinidadian sprinter. Senator Peris said she had not realised this was a reference to emails. Back in March a representative of the man had told her unless his wishes were granted she would take steps that would "only result in major trauma for everyone, especially the children, and would damage the reputation of some stakeholders." On October 9 the same representative had emailed to say, "I am sending this communication to you today to ensure there is no mistake as to who is responsible for releasing the information in relation to you." She said the emails had been part of a long-running family dispute. They included alleged comments insulting athlete Cathy Freeman, who Senator Peris today said she had contacted. I have spoken in person to Cathy Freeman. Our friendship remains strong and we will continue to support each other," she told the Senate. Despite the hopes of some, this incident will not stop me from serving the people of the Northern Territory and advocating on behalf of Aboriginal Australians. Senator Peris said the contents of the emails did not reflect her values "and the evidence of this is the life I led and continue to lead." She said she was completely overwhelmed by the support she had received since the release of the emails. "There are three things guaranteed in life: We will all die at some stage; each day the sun will set; and it will rise again tomorrow," she said. Senator Peris was supported in the Chamber by nine MP colleagues who arrived to watch her statement. The central matter raised by the emails was the suggestion from the emails that Ms Peris had used public funds to ensure Mr Boldon could get to Australia for a sexual relationship. No organisation involved in the Boldon project, including Athletics Australia, has a complaint about the funding of the visit or Ms Peris" assistance in arranging it. Senator Peris in 2013 became the first indigenous woman elected to Parliament after then Prime Minister Julia Gillard insisted she be preselected ahead of Labor stalwart Trish Crossin. The Labor leadership has continued to support her with Opposition Senate Leader Penny Wong insisting there was no public interest in releasing the emails. CLAIMS: Nova's "freaky" sex scandal SEX SCANDAL: Ato Boldon responds to claims Affair allegations ... Nova Peris and Ato Boldon. Earlier, the Australian Sports Commission came to the defence of the dual international, saying an independent audit of the program at the centre of the scandal found no wrongdoing. The Guardian Australia has reported that the audit found no money was misused when Peris sought funds through Athletics Australia to bring Trinidadian athlete Ato Boldon to Australia in 2010, when she was having an extramarital affair with him. Senior Labor figures rallied behind their colleague yesterday, describing media reports of the scandal as muckraking and a gross invasion of her privacy. Senator Peris, an Olympic hockey gold medallist and former Young Australian of the Year, reportedly sought taxpayer funds to help carry on an extramarital affair with the fellow Olympian. Explicit emails obtained by the NT News suggest she approached Athletics Australia and other sources for money to pay for Boldon's trip to Australia in 2010 - well before she was a senator. The claims of wrongdoing have been categorically rejected by Senator Peris, who joined parliament last year as a "captain's pick" of former prime minister Julia Gillard. Documents provided to the NT News are private. It appears they were not lawfully obtained by a third party," she said in a brief statement. Senator Peris has asked Federal police to investigate the matter. An Australian Federal Police spokesman confirmed Senator Peris made a referral to them on October 2. Defence ... Senator Nova Peris is expected to address the allegations in the Senate today. Photo: Richard Jupe Source: News Corp Australia "The AFP is continuing to evaluate this referral as per usual process," he said. He declined to comment further. The NT News issued a statement yesterday backing their story. We stand by the story, which deals with a matter of public importance, namely the alleged misuse of taxpayer funds. Copies of the emails, which we are satisfied are 100% legitimate, were volunteered to the NT News by a credible source. In a strident defence of her colleague, Labor's Senate leader Penny Wong said there was no public interest in publishing the private emails. She said the media reports were a gross invasion of Senator Peris" privacy. "Australians - public figures and the wider community - deserve better," Senator Wong said in a statement. Senator Peris" NT Labor colleague Warren Snowdon said she was doing an excellent job in Canberra. Senator Nova Peris has categorically rejected the claims. "The allegations made are mischievous muckraking and do not deserve further comment," he said. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said described Senator Peris as an honest person and a "great Australian." She's rejected any wrongdoing. I take Senator Peris at her word," Mr Shorten said on radio. An angry Boldon said the reports included "gross fabrications," and that he would pursue "all legal action possible for this malicious misrepresentation of the details surrounding my presence in Australia in 2010." Senator Peris was a former training partner and a friend of almost 20 years, the Olympic medallist said. Praise ... Labor Senator Nova Peris is an honest person and a "great Australian," says Bill Shorten. My last trip to Australia almost five years ago was for the purpose of holding several youth clinics, and it was a successful undertaking. The trip was co-organised by one of my now-deceased colleagues at Athletics Australia," he said in a statement posted on Twitter. Athletics Australia confirmed Senator Peris had helped establish initial contact with Boldon, and that it had paid for his return flights from Los Angeles, his accommodation and other expenses. However, it praised Boldon's tour of Australia, saying he had "capably fulfilled" his role as a mentor to young athletes and boosted the profile of athletics in Australia. Boldon won the 100m silver medal and 200m bronze at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and a pair of bronze in Atlanta in 1996.