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Opposition leader Sussan Ley has apologised to Indian Australians over Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s inflammatory remarks after sacking the senator from the Opposition frontbench.
“May I take this opportunity, as leader of the Liberal Party, to apologise to all Indian Australians and indeed others who were hurt and distressed by the comments that were made,” Ley said at a press conference on Thursday.
“May I reaffirm my strong support for all our migrant communities for the values that they bring to this country, for the contribution they make and for choosing to come to Australia.”
Price last week falsely claimed the federal government was prioritising Indian migrants to bolster its vote. She moved to clarify her remarks, saying she was highlighting general concern for Labor’s “mass migration agenda” and when pushed on this further on Wednesday, said they were “clumsy” but again did not apologise. She also refused to endorse Ley’s leadership.
Price said she accepted the decision, adding she regretted not being clearer when making the comments initially and that she “never intended to be disparaging towards our Indian community”.
“My concern is not migration itself — it’s the magnitude of migration,” Price said.
She said she would “continue to speak up on issues which are in the national interest” from the backbench.
Ley on Thursday wouldn’t divulge her “private discussions” with Price, but said she remained a “valued member” of the Liberal Party.
“[Price] has contributed much in public policy and debate in this country and will continue to do so,” Ley said.
Ley said a decision on Price’s replacement in the Opposition cabinet will be made in due course.
Price was Opposition spokesperson for defence industry until her demotion.
Opposition finance spokesman James Paterson said the axing was disappointing, but was confident his Senate colleague would return to a prominent position within the Liberal party.
“It was self-evidently not an edifying week for the Liberal Party and we are concerned about the way in which Indian Australians heard that discussion and felt about that,” he told Sky News on Thursday.
“Political careers are not linear any more, they have fits and starts, forward steps and back steps, and I’m confident that Jacinta will be back in a prominent role in the front bench.”
Deputy opposition leader Ted O’Brien said while Price had the freedom to speak out on issues, her comments had to be dealt with and Ley made the right decision.
“Words can sometimes be positive and help someone out, or words can hurt, and I think we all have to be mindful, no matter what we do in life, to try to choose our words as best as we can.”
— With reporting by the Australian Associated Press.
