00:00Attempting to build back a relationship in tatters.
00:05May I take this opportunity as leader of the Liberal Party
00:08to apologise to all Indian Australians
00:12and indeed others who were hurt and distressed
00:16by the comments that were made.
00:18Saying sorry on behalf of Jacinta Numpajimpa-Price
00:21who last week accused Labor of allowing Indian migrants
00:24into Australia to boost its vote.
00:27May I reaffirm my strong support for all our migrant communities,
00:32for the values that they bring to this country,
00:35for the contribution they make
00:37and for choosing to come to Australia.
00:39Some within the Liberals insist a debate on migration is needed
00:43but many fear the comments have caused enduring damage
00:46with one telling the ABC no number of trips to Little India
00:50will patch this up.
00:52It hasn't been good.
00:53We know that from the feedback that's been received
00:56from all parts of the community.
00:58The Senator has vowed to keep the migration debate alive,
01:01now from the backbench after she was dumped
01:03for failing to express confidence in the leader.
01:06It is the right decision and I have to say
01:09Jacinta Price has rightly accepted that decision.
01:14While there's agreement Susan Lee made the right call,
01:17some are already pushing for the Senator to return.
01:20I don't think political careers are linear anymore.
01:23There are forward steps and backward steps
01:25and I hope that in due course Jacinta is back in a frontbench role.
01:27I don't think it is the last time we've seen her on the frontbench.
01:30This week has seen the first open challenge to Susan Lee's leadership
01:34and while Liberals insist there's no move towards a spill,
01:37her authority is expected to be tested further within coming months.
01:41Most notably on a policy that's likely to be even more divisive for the party than migration
01:47and that's climate change.
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