Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has reiterated her refusal to apologize for her recent comments regarding Indian-Australians. This stance comes as tensions among Liberal frontbenchers continue into a second week. During a press conference in Perth, Nampijinpa Price stated, "I won't be silenced" on migration issues and emphasized that the leadership of Sussan Ley is a matter for the party room.

The senator, who switched from the Nationals to the Liberals in May, had previously suggested in an ABC interview that the Albanese government was favoring migrants likely to support Labor. When asked for clarification, she specifically mentioned Indian migrants, a remark that sparked backlash within Australia’s Indian community and raised concerns among some Liberals about the party's future with migrant voters.

Liberal frontbenchers Alex Hawke and Julian Leeser publicly criticized her comments. Hawke called for an apology, while Leeser offered an apology on her behalf. Despite their alignment with Ley, the opposition leader has not demanded an apology from Nampijinpa Price and has refrained from directly criticizing her. Ley has also not confirmed whether she has spoken with Nampijinpa Price about the issue.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stated that Nampijinpa Price should apologize to Indian Australians for her remarks, highlighting the growing pressure on Ley's leadership.

In response to Hawke's criticism, Nampijinpa Price accused him of intimidating her staff and threatening her position, allegations that Hawke has denied. She has largely avoided the media since the incident, appearing only in a Sky News interview.

During her brief appearance, Nampijinpa Price acknowledged her comments were "clumsy" but insisted they had been "immediately clarified." She expressed gratitude to those who supported her, including many Australians of Indian heritage. "The issue that I won't be silenced on is the issue of mass migration in our country," she said. "We've been elected by the Australian people to address the failures of the Albanese government."

Nampijinpa Price also noted her own mixed heritage, stating, "I am a woman of mixed heritage myself and this is ultimately the Australian story."

In response to the controversy, Sussan Ley held a roundtable with Indian community leaders in Sydney. She reported that they conveyed their feelings of hurt and harm due to Nampijinpa Price's remarks. Ley reassured the community of the Liberal Party's strong support, stating, "It doesn't matter to me how you vote, we love what you bring to our communities."

Ley emphasized the importance of dialogue, saying, "Where feelings are hurt, there needs to be a two-way dialogue and there needs to be an understanding." This ongoing situation highlights the challenges within the Liberal Party as it navigates its relationship with diverse communities in Australia.