Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has refused to apologise for comments suggesting the Labor Party was "importing" Indian voters to boost its support, resharing a lengthy social media post that defended her remarks and amplifying tensions within the Coalition.
Price faced criticism after last week accusing Labor of prioritising Indian migrants to help boost its vote. The remarks prompted demands for clarification from some Liberal colleagues, most notably backbencher Alex Hawke, and have drawn calls from several senior Coalition figures for the senator to apologise.
On Wednesday, Price reshared a post by conservative commentator Rukshan Fernando, who argued her comments were "not racist in any way" and urged against apologies. Fernando, who wrote that he was "an Australian with subcontinental heritage" and was born in Sri Lanka, said Price's observations were "grounded in real world observations and, importantly, data." He called for a "broader discussion of the topic," and asserted that Labor appealed to Indian-Australians because of the "allure of victimhood offered" by the party.
Price thanked Fernando when she shared his post, writing that he was "an Aussie that fights for our values and freedoms" and adding, "One Australia for us all." Her decision to amplify Fernando's defence effectively reiterated her refusal to apologise for the original remarks.
The exchange with Hawke spilled into public view after he asked Price to clarify her comments. Price subsequently accused Hawke of what she described as "cowardly and inappropriate conduct" towards her staff. The row has added to a series of public disagreements inside the Coalition, where some senior figures have urged a conciliatory response while others have defended Price's right to raise concerns about demographic and electoral changes.
The episode comes amid broader national debate about immigration, community representation and how major parties engage with rapidly growing migrant communities. Price's remarks and the reaction to them have prompted discussion about party discipline and messaging in the lead-up to future electoral contests.
There has been no immediate indication that the party will take formal disciplinary action against Price. Liberal leaders and frontbenchers have so far sought to manage the fallout through public appeals for unity and private consultations, while commentators on the right and some members of the subcontinental Australian community have voiced support for Fernando's framing of the issue.
Price's resharing of the commentary and her refusal to apologise are likely to keep the dispute in the public eye as Coalition figures debate how to respond, and as political strategists assess the implications for voter outreach among Indian-Australian and other migrant communities.