Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price on Wednesday reiterated she would not apologise for comments last week accusing the Labor Party of "importing" Indian voters to bolster its support, resharing a column that defended her remarks and intensifying a public dispute within the Coalition.
The reshared piece, written by conservative commentator Rukshan Fernando, described Price's observations as "not racist" and urged a broader public discussion about Australia’s changing demographics. The exchange has prompted calls from several senior Coalition figures for Price to apologise, and has spilled into the open after a public clash with Liberal MP Alex Hawke.
Price first attracted attention last week when she told media that Labor was prioritising Indian migrants in a way that had the effect of boosting the party’s vote. The remarks prompted immediate backlash from within and beyond the Coalition, with some colleagues and commentators describing the language as inflammatory.
Fernando, who wrote the piece Price shared, said he was speaking "as an Australian with subcontinental heritage" and argued that Price's comments were "grounded in real world observations and, importantly, data." He criticised what he described as an "overreaction" to her comments and said demands for an apology were driven by the left, the mainstream media and "some so called conservatives."
In the piece, Fernando also wrote that Labor appealed to some Indian-Australians because of the "allure of victimhood" the party offered and praised Price for opposing Labor and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s stance during the national Voice debate, which he framed as a form of "racial apartheid."
Price publicly thanked Fernando and effectively endorsed his column, posting: "You are an Aussie that fights for our values and freedoms and I am grateful for your support and common sense on current issues. One Australia for us all." The senator has declined repeated calls to withdraw her comments or apologise.
The dispute between Price and Hawke, a senior Liberal figure who handles party numbers, has further exposed divisions within the Coalition. Hawke asked Price to clarify her remarks, and the interaction became public after Price accused him of "cowardly and inappropriate conduct" towards her staff. Both sides have described aspects of the exchange differently, and the episode has become a focal point for wider concerns about party unity.
Several senior Coalition members, worried about electoral and reputational consequences, have urged Price to apologise. Party sources said those concerns centre on the political risks of alienating growing migrant communities and on managing internal discipline. Price’s refusal to retract her comments has left some Conservatives at odds over how to respond.
The controversy follows heightened political sensitivity around migration and multicultural engagement in Australian politics, issues that have drawn increased scrutiny as community demographics evolve. Price, a senator from the Northern Territory and a prominent conservative voice, has previously drawn attention for her commentary on cultural and social policy.
Labor representatives declined to expand on the government’s response beyond earlier criticism and calls for Price to apologise. Party strategists have said the commentary is being monitored, but offered no formal reaction to Fernando’s column.
The dispute adds to a string of internal tensions within the Coalition this year, and party figures warned the public disagreement could complicate policy coordination and campaigning in marginal electorates. It also highlights debates within conservatism in Australia over how to discuss migration, identity and political affiliation without alienating key voter groups.
As the matter continues to unfold, Coalition leaders face choices about whether to publicly discipline Price, broker a private resolution, or allow the debate to play out in public. Price’s decision to republish a defence of her comments suggests she intends to maintain her position, and the disagreement shows no immediate sign of abating.