Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has refused to apologise for remarks accusing the Australian Labor Party of prioritising Indian migrants to boost its vote, reposting a firm defence of her comments and deepening tensions within the federal Coalition.
Price’s refusal followed a public exchange with Liberal Party figure Alex Hawke, who asked her to clarify the remarks made last week. The dispute spilled into the open after Price accused Hawke of "cowardly and inappropriate conduct" towards her staff, and several senior Coalition figures have since urged her to apologise, according to media reports.
On Wednesday Price reshared a lengthy post by conservative commentator Rukshan Fernando who, writing from his experience as a migrant born in Sri Lanka, defended her remarks and said they were "not racist in any way". Fernando argued Price’s observations about Australia’s changing demographics were "grounded in real world observations and, importantly, data," and called for a broader public discussion.
"The overreaction to her remarks about Labor essentially importing Indian voters is evident in the obsessive demands for an apology to appease Indian Australians from the left, the mainstream media, and some so called conservatives," Fernando wrote in the post reshared by Price. He also wrote that Labor was attractive to some Indian-Australians because of the "allure of victimhood offered" by the party and said Price had opposed what he described as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s "push for racial apartheid during the Voice debate." Price thanked Fernando and posted: "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."
Price’s comments initially drew criticism from across the political spectrum last week after she said Labor had been prioritising Indian migrants in ways that would benefit its electoral prospects. The remarks prompted immediate calls within the Coalition for clarification and, for some, an apology. Alex Hawke, a senior Liberal Party figure tasked with party numbers, publicly asked Price to explain her comments before their relations deteriorated into accusations of improper conduct by Price.
The episode has underscored existing tensions inside the centre-right alliance, with some senior Coalition members urging de-escalation and others defending Price’s right to raise immigration and demographic issues. Party leaders have not reached a public consensus on how to respond, and the controversy has continued to attract commentary from commentators and community figures.
Analysts and community leaders have previously warned that language linking migrant populations to electoral manipulation can inflame ethnic tensions, while supporters of Price have argued the debate raises legitimate questions about immigration policy, party outreach and demographic change. Price has been a prominent, sometimes polarising, voice on issues including Indigenous policy and immigration and has previously taken a hard line on the Voice referendum and other cultural debates.
At the time of publication, Price had not issued an apology and maintained she stood by her comments. Party sources and public statements indicate the dispute remains unresolved and continues to prompt discussion within the Coalition about messaging and intra-party conduct.
The controversy is ongoing and is likely to figure in discussions among Coalition leaders as they consider how to manage internal divisions and public reaction ahead of forthcoming political events.