Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has described Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s removal from the Liberal shadow cabinet as “a big loss to the frontbench.”
However, Labor leader Julian Hill MP, also Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs, took a dig at the Liberal Party by pointong that Senator Price was removed not because of her remarks about Indian migrants, but for failing to back Opposition Leader Sussan Ley MP.
“Like seriously, what is wrong with them? Why does today’s Liberal Party keep getting embroiled in race issues?”
Senator Price was removed after refusing to apologise for suggesting there were “concerns” about Indian migrants and their voting patterns, claiming the Labor Party “likes to allow those (people) in … who ultimately vote for them.”
Her remarks provoked outrage among Indian Australians and unease inside the Coalition.
Although she later described the remarks as a “mistake” and “clumsy,” the issue escalated when she accused fellow Liberal MP Alex Hawke of allegedly berating her staff and demanding an apology—claims Mr Hawke has strongly denied.
Before leaving for the Pacific Islands Forum, even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called on Senator Price to apologise to the Indian-Australian community for comments that have offended.
However, speaking to reporters in Perth today, Senator Price defended her stance on mass migration, insisting she would “not be silenced on the issue of mass migration in our country.”
Senator Price said she had spoken to many Australians, including members of the Indian community, and claimed to have received “overwhelming outreach” in support of her.
“That was the prime issue that I was talking about and continue to talk about… an issue that we need to be able to have a respectful debate about,” Sentaor Price said, pointing to pressures on housing, schooling, and infrastructure.
Sussan Ley MP, speaking from Hobart, said Senator Price “failed the test of what’s required to be part of the shadow ministry,” adding,
“Shadow Ministers are expected to uphold the standards I have set as Leader… Price has failed to do so.”
In a statement, Senator Price said she accepted the decision but reiterated her concerns about the scale and pace of migration, insisting she never intended to disparage the Indian community. She also vowed to continue speaking out on key national issues, including Indigenous communities, climate policy, national security, and economic freedoms.
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