Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has chosen not to apologize for comments made by Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who suggested that the government's migration program favors Indian migrants for electoral gain. During her debut appearance on ABC Insiders as opposition leader, Ley stated that Price's remarks were incorrect and had been addressed, but she declined to apologize on her behalf.

"What I have offered to the Australian Indian community is my full support, my deep appreciation, my ongoing warmth for what they bring to this country and how we value them as migrants," Ley said. She emphasized the importance of recognizing the contributions of the Indian community, stating, "We vote every three years, but we are Australians every single day of every year."

When pressed three times about whether she would apologize for Price's comments, Ley did not offer an apology. She also refrained from confirming whether she had counseled Price, who recently transitioned from the Nationals to the Liberal Party to run as deputy leader under Angus Taylor.

Shadow Immigration Minister Paul Scarr acknowledged that he had spoken with Price and noted that her comments had caused "great hurt" within the Indian Australian community. Price had previously stated on ABC's Afternoon Briefing that the influx of Indian migrants suggested that the Labor Party was favoring this group for electoral advantage. "If [Labor] are going to see a reflection that, 'OK, these individuals are going to vote for us more, more so than other parts of the community,' well then of course they're going to express the view that we'll get those sorts of individuals into our communities," she said.

Despite the backlash, Price later admitted that her comments were a "mistake" but maintained that she had nothing to apologize for, claiming the issue was exaggerated during her interview. Her remarks drew criticism from fellow Liberal members, who expressed concern over the potential damage to relationships with the Indian community.

In an effort to mend ties, Ley plans to visit Indian community groups in Sydney. She indicated that Price would also engage with the community to help rebuild trust.

The controversy comes as the federal government released a long-awaited target for Australia's permanent migration intake for the upcoming year, reigniting discussions about migration levels. Ley has previously stated that the current migration rate is too high, asserting it puts pressure on the Australian "way of life." However, she clarified that her comments were not directed at migrants themselves but rather at public policy failures regarding infrastructure, jobs, and services.

Ley argued that the permanent intake figure of 180,000 should be reduced to between that number and 140,000, which was the level proposed by the Coalition during the last election. "We have to get that right, and it's not just the permanent migration, it's the net overseas migration as well," she said. "We value our skilled migrants, we know how much we need them … the issue here is not about the migrants, it's about the infrastructure."

Scarr added that the government's migration figure lacks long-term planning, creating a "vacuum" in the debate. He stressed the need for careful discussions about migration, warning against focusing on specific groups. "It has to be considered and measured, and once you go down the path of identifying or talking about one particular group, then that is a terrible, terrible mistake," he said.