Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has doubled down on her inflammatory remarks about Indian Australians, saying she does not believe she has anything to apologise for after claiming the Albanese government was deliberately bringing in migrants from “particular countries” to boost Labor’s vote.
On Thursday, Senator Price, who is the opposition’s defence industry spokeswoman, rejected calls to apologise.
“I don’t believe I have anything to apologise about.”
On Wednesday, Price told the ABC’s Afternoon Briefing that the government was focusing on “more Labor-leaning” migrant communities, specifically naming the Indian community. She later issued a statement walking back the claim, acknowledging that Australia has a “longstanding and bipartisan non-discriminatory migration policy” and describing suggestions otherwise as “a mistake.”
Thursday morning, she said she is “Proud to Stand for All Australians.”
“In recent days, there has been discussion about my comments on migration. I want to set the record straight. When I raise concerns about Labor’s mass migration agenda, it’s about the numbers – not about any community.
“Indian migrants, who have come to Australia, have a strong record of integration, embracing our values, working hard in many fields of endeavour, and joining the league of cherished and loyal Australian citizens. My own children share Indian ancestry, and I have strong friendships within the Indian and Sikh communities in the Northern Territory. I deeply value these connections.
“My concern, as it is for millions of Australians, is Labor’s uncontrolled, unplanned, and unsustainable migration. Labor’s mass migration agenda – an issue of numbers – continues to cause pressures on housing, infrastructure and services.
“I want a better life for all families whether you’re a migrant, a resident, or a citizen, regardless of your background. But a better life for all families, better housing, better infrastructure and better services requires the restoration of controlled, planned, and sustainable migration.”
“In the context of discussing the marches that took place on the weekend, it was the ABC interviewer who pushed the issue, who brought up the issue of anti-Indian migration… What I did was point out the fact that, yes, Indian migrants are the second-largest migrant group to this country, and soon to be the largest.”
A transcript of the ABC interview shows Price first raised the false claim herself, saying the government was seeking migrants “from particular countries over others.” Asked whether she meant Labor was running a migration program to bring in voters sympathetic to its ideas, Price answered: “Absolutely.” When pressed twice on which groups she meant, Price referred to migrants “that are more Labor-leaning” before naming the Indian community.
Special Envoy for the Indian Ocean, Tim Watts MP, condemned Opposition behaviour in Parliament, saying Senator Jacinta Price “owes Indian Australians an apology” for spreading a baseless conspiracy theory about the community.
He criticised multiple Coalition Shadow Ministers and Senators for crossing the floor to vote with One Nation on immigration, calling it “proof the Coalition is incapable of representing modern Australia.”
Julian Hill, Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs, said that
“Senator Jacinta Price should APOLOGISE for anti-Indian comments and dog whistling.”
“The Liberals have learnt nothing from the election, when Australians rejected the politics of hate and division. Australia does not have a race-based migration system, and nor should it, he added.”
Her remarks have created a political headache for Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, who said Price had “corrected her comments.”
Ms Ley issued a video statement to The Australia Today saying she values the Indian Australian community.
The storm also prompted concern from Liberal frontbencher Julian Leeser, Co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of India. While avoiding direct criticism, Leeser said Indian Australians were a “wonderful community” widely engaged in civic life and service.
Labor MP Andrew Charlton condemned Price’s remarks as “an outrageous slur,” pointing out that Indian Australians are among the country’s most successful migrant groups. “They are doctors, engineers, small business owners, carers and innovators,” he said.
“To suggest they are here at the invitation of Labor for votes is insulting and false.”
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke rejected the claim that immigration policy is race-based, saying: “We do not have a race-based migration system, nor should we. At every citizenship ceremony I go to, it’s rare anyone cheers more loudly than the Indian community. We are lucky they have chosen us.”
Industry Minister Ed Husic suggested the ABC’s fact-checking team would have “so much work to do” after Price’s appearance.
In parliament, Leader of the Government in the Senate Penny Wong issued a pointed rebuke of hate, violence and division. “This is not the Australia we know,” she said, stressing that the nation’s strength lies in its multiculturalism, with more than 300 ancestries represented and nearly half of Australians either born overseas or with a parent born overseas.
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