Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called on Liberal Senator Jacinta Price to apologise to the Indian community, following controversial comments she made regarding migration. Price suggested that the federal government favours certain migrant groups for political gain, specifically naming the Indian community in a recent ABC interview. Although she later retracted her statement, asserting that Australia has a long-standing non-discriminatory migration policy, her refusal to apologise has sparked considerable backlash within her party.
This controversy erupted shortly after anti-immigration rallies, some targeting Indian Australians, took place across the country. Albanese expressed support for the Indian community, which he claims has significantly contributed to Australia’s strength, and stated that Price should address the pain her comments have caused. He highlighted that even members of her own party were advising her to apologise.
Calls for her apology have been echoed by various Liberal Party members, including Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie and MP Julian Leeser, who took it upon himself to apologise on Price’s behalf during an event at a Hindi language school in Berowra. He acknowledged the valuable contributions of the Indian community and stressed that political affiliations should not obscure the appreciation of their efforts in Australia.
Amidst this internal dissent, Price publicly rejected advice from senior Liberal figures, including Alex Hawke, suggesting he behaved inappropriately towards her staff. In a recent statement, she highlighted what she views as a failure of the Liberal Party to support its female members when they face mistreatment.
Price continues to defy calls for an apology, instead urging her leadership to hold Hawke accountable for his purported conduct. Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has embarked on a tour in Harris Park, also known as Little India, to mend ties with the Indian community, acknowledging that Price was wrong but not clearly stating whether she urged Price to apologise.
Ley’s visit comes at a crucial time for the Liberal Party, which seeks to repair relationships following a significant electoral loss. While Ley has clarified Price’s comments were inappropriate, she has avoided directly apologising on her behalf or specifying her discussions with Price about the matter. The situation remains tense as Price maintains her stance, exacerbating internal party divisions and complicating efforts to reconnect with multicultural communities.