Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has criticised a regional council for suggesting that she seek permission from the local Indigenous community to hold a speaking event.
Ms Price, a Warlpiri-Celtic woman, is a contentious figure for many Indigenous people because of her political views.
The Alice Springs town councillor has made outspoken comments about domestic violence and child protection in Aboriginal communities. She also opposes changing the date of Australia Day and expressed support for the NT Intervention.
Her public profile has risen since she ran for federal office in the NT seat of Lingiari at the last election though she did not win the seat - which has one of the largest Indigenous populations in the country.
Since then, Ms Price has become more closely aligned with conservative commentators including Andrew Bolt, Alan Jones and Rita Panahi and is currently giving speeches about solutions to Aboriginal disadvantage as part of a national tour called ‘Mind the Gap’.
Ms Price is booked to speak at the Jetty Memorial Theatre in Coffs Harbour on Tuesday night.
"I really can't figure it out," she told Sky News Australia.
"It's political correctness gone absolutely bonkers to suggest that I have to seek permission to enter what is Australian land and that I should be, you know, ensuring that there is a Welcome to Country at my event.
"I refuse to do any of those things."
In the lead-up to the event, nine Coffs Harbour’s Aboriginal groups – including the local land council and local NGOs - circulated a joint statement explicitly stating that Ms Price was "not welcome".
“For years we have observed Ms Price continually vilify Aboriginal peoples and cultures, and ridicule the compounding pain and suffering of our communities,” they said.
“At the end of the day, it is the local Aboriginal community working hard on the ground, taking action and doing the work required to create change within Coffs Harbour. Therefore, we urge people to support our position and boycott this event.”
In a statement, the Coffs Harbour City Council said it was aware that the local Indigenous community had concerns about the speaking engagement.
“In keeping with council’s commitment to the traditional and customary protocols of our Indigenous community members, council suggested to Ms Price’s representatives that she seek permission from the local Gumbaynggirr Aboriginal community to come onto country,” it said.
“Coffs Harbour City Council has not banned Jacinta Price from a speaking event in the city.”
The Indigenous groups opposed to the event have said they have “no interest” in protesting at the event and instead encouraged the community to attend a Gumbaynggirr language class.
