Ley apologises for Nampijinpa Price’s remarks about Indian migrants

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Opposition leader Sussan Ley has apologised to the Indian community for comments made by Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. While Ms Ley has also faced criticism for her handling of the matter, liberals say there's no threat to her leadership.

Transcript

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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