Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is under scrutiny once again following her comments regarding Indian migration. The Northern Territory senator has faced calls to apologise for her remarks, which some believe suggest that the Australian government is prioritising Indian migrants due to their voting patterns. This incident marks another controversy for Price, who has been at the centre of previous scandals in the past year.
Earlier in March 2023, Senator Price was required to repay AUD 11,000 in improperly claimed expenses. She dismissed the ensuing reports as part of a “smear campaign.” The senator’s public presence has often stirred debate, notably during a federal election campaign rally in April 2023. At that event, she echoed the slogan “make Australia great again,” reminiscent of former US President Donald Trump. This phrase raised eyebrows, especially as the coalition was grappling with perceptions of aligning its policies with Trump’s administration.
Less than an hour after her rally speech, Price claimed she was unaware of her use of the phrase and described the Australian media as “Trump obsessed.” Compounding the situation, photographs emerged showing Price and her husband wearing “Make America Great Again” hats on Christmas Day in 2024. On election night, May 3, 2023, she addressed the backlash, asserting that “mud had been slung” following her comments and argued that Trump did not hold exclusive rights to the phrase.
Following the coalition’s loss in the federal elections, Senator Price switched from the Nationals to sit with the Liberal Party. She initially expressed interest in running for the deputy Liberal leader position alongside Angus Taylor but later withdrew after Sussan Ley won the vote.
In a recent interview with the ABC, Senator Price stated that the government was bringing in Indian migrants primarily because they vote for the Labor Party. Although she later clarified that Australia maintains a non-discriminatory migration policy, she has not apologised for her comments. On social media, she expressed regret for not being clearer, stating that her remarks were not intended to offend the Indian community.
Members of the coalition, including the Prime Minister, as well as various Indian community groups, have urged Price to issue an apology. Amid the ongoing controversy, she has claimed that Liberal MP Alex Hawke reprimanded her staff over the incident.
Senator Price’s comments have reignited discussions on immigration policy in Australia, highlighting the complex interplay of politics, community sentiment, and media scrutiny. As the debate continues, the implications of her statements may resonate within the political landscape.
