Jacinta Nampijinpa Price attends liberal party fundraiser in Perth and addresses her ‘clumsy’ comments

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has admitted her comments about the Indian community were “clumsy,” days after she was dumped from the Coalition frontbench over the controversy. In a speech obtained by The West from a Liberal party fundraiser at WA Indian Society’s community centre in Willetton on Thursday night — from which media were asked to leave — Senator Price told supporters she regretted taking part in a recent interview with the ABC, in which she made inflammatory comments about Indian migrants. The remarks triggered Opposition Leader Sussan Ley to remove her from the Opposition frontbench on Wednesday evening. Senator Price told the crowd on Thursday she had met with the Indian community in the wake of her comments. “Can I also say that I had a wonderful opportunity to sit and meet with members of our Australian community, of Indian heritage this evening as well, and in fact, have been having conversations more broadly right around the country,” she said. “They understand my remarks were clumsy, and I should have said it better, and I should probably have never had that interview, quite frankly, with Patricia Karvelas in the first place. “They also expressed to me the fact that they too hold concerns over mass migration. Mass migration, not migration. We didn’t have a problem with migration. It just needs to be sensible, and it needs to ensure that we continue a way of life that is bringing out the best in our country, that’s supporting our families of all different backgrounds in this country.” Senator Price added that she “now had the freedom of being a backbencher.” “Yes, it’s a newfound freedom that I’m very grateful for, because there are a number of issues that we need to be vocal about, ultimately, for me and you know, and my colleagues, we need to start talking about what our country needs to move forward, instead of each other.” The crowd was extremely warm to Senator Price, applauding her with a standing ovation. Before the speeches started, people were discussing the irony about the fundraiser being held at the Indian community centre. A $10 raffle was held after the speeches, with a signed copy of Senator Prices’ memoir up for grabs. After leaving the event, Senator Price refused to answer questions to media waiting outside. Also in attendance was Shadow Attorney-General Nick Goiran and Liberal Senator Matt O’Sullivan, who both spoke fondly of Senator Price. Coalition MPs were in damage control after Senator Price said on Wednesday last week that the Federal Government was bringing in migrants “from particular countries over others” to win votes, naming the “Indian community” as an example. Earlier on Thursday, Liberal leadership contender Andrew Hastie insisted “the knives are not being sharpened” for Ms Ley as his colleagues openly telegraphed their desperation to move on from the debacle. Frictions in the party played out in public during the week between Senator Price’s initial comments and her sacking. Mr Hastie, who has been open about his own future leadership ambitions, vowed on Thursday to “always speak my mind” but said once Senator Price couldn’t express confidence in Ms Ley, the outcome was inevitable. He said despite “feverish speculation” after Ms Ley acted on Wednesday night, there was no spill in the offing. “The knives are not being sharpened ... they’re not. What we need now is stability,” he told 2GB radio. “We actually need to work out who we are and who we’re fighting for and that’s the fundamental question that we face in the wake of one of the biggest defeats we’ve had last May. There isn’t a spill. People know I have a desire to lead but there isn’t a move — just to be very clear.” Some of those who backed rival Angus Taylor in the leadership ballot thought Ms Ley had strengthened her standing after the episode. Many other Liberals speaking in public and private expressed their desire to move on and return focus to the Government. “The last week hasn’t been good for us. We’ve been talking about ourselves and not doing it in a pretty way,” frontbencher Jonno Duniam said. Colleague James Paterson said it had been “self-evidently not an edifying week for the Liberal Party”, and he was concerned about how the Indian Australians community had heard the discussion and felt about it. Nevertheless, he was among multiple people who thought Senator Price would return to the frontbench. “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 frontbench,” he said. Ms Ley apologised to Indian Australians and any others hurt and distressed by Senator Price’s comments about the high rates of migration. “I know our migrant communities are waiting for homes like all Australians and anxious for a government that delivers for them and recognises the woeful approach to housing, to aged care, to support for small business, it affects everyone,” she said. WA Liberal leader Basil Zempilas also moved to reassure the community on Thursday, writing to the Indian Society of WA to express regret over hurt caused by Senator Price. But he rejected calls to cancel a Liberal Party fundraiser featuring Senator Price being held at an Indian community hall in Willetton on Thursday night. “A fundraiser that has been organised some time ago is taking place tonight. I accept that Senator Jacinta Price is part of the panel that will appear at that event and that is fair enough,” he said. “I spoke to the Indian community about that and they were OK with it being held at ... that centre.” Senior WA minister John Carey accused Liberal powerbroker Nick Goiran of giving a “two-fingered salute” to Mr Zempilas, if he appeared alongside Senator Price at the event, while Labor MP Jags Krishnan said he had been contacted by “multiple people in the Indian community” distressed the event was going ahead in his electorate of Riverton. Mr Goiran and Senator Price share top billing in promotional material for the event, but it was organised by Liberal MLC Michelle Hofmann. She vowed it would go ahead, saying they had sold 500 tickets. “Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is an incredible member of Parliament. She’s really passionate about her community and there’s a lot of people who are looking forward to seeing her,” Ms Hofmann said.