Jacinta Price Poised for Shadow Ministry Return Under New Liberal Leader Angus Taylor
The political landscape within the Liberal Party is undergoing significant transformation following the leadership spill that installed Angus Taylor as the new opposition leader. One of the most notable potential developments is the anticipated return of Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to the shadow ministry, a position she was forced to relinquish under the previous leadership.
Frontbench Resignations and Leadership Change
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price previously served as the Shadow Minister for Defence Industry and Defence Personnel until September 2025. Her departure from the frontbench came after former leader Sussan Ley accepted her resignation. This followed a period of controversy where Price made comments about Indian migrants that drew widespread criticism from across the political spectrum.
Another prominent figure, Angus Taylor, also resigned from the frontbench around the same time. Taylor has now successfully secured the party leadership, winning the leadership bid on Friday. His complete ministry lineup is expected to be announced in the coming days, with speculation mounting about potential appointments.
Price's Political Future and Party Renewal
In an email sent to supporters on Sunday, Price congratulated Taylor on his new leadership role and expressed optimism about the party's direction. The Northern Territory senator described Taylor's leadership as representing 'renewal and opportunity' for the Liberal Party, which currently faces unprecedented lows in polling data.
'Under Angus's leadership, I believe we can chart a way forward where we offer Australians a genuine opposition and an alternative government,' Price wrote in her communication to supporters. She emphasized the need for the party to establish clear values distinct from their political opponents.
Policy Priorities and Political Strategy
Price outlined several key policy areas she believes should be central to the party's agenda under Taylor's leadership:
- Stopping mass immigration
- Restoring affordable energy
- Reviving domestic industry
- Increasing housing construction
- Ending classroom indoctrination
- Reviving national pride
The senator also offered strategic advice to the new leader, suggesting he should avoid falling into culture wars and identity politics that had troubled his predecessors. Instead, she recommended refusing 'to play the game with media or with Labor of pandering to sectional interests.'
Controversial Comments and Backlash
The circumstances surrounding Price's original departure from the shadow ministry involved two primary factors. First, she failed to fully support Sussan Ley's leadership. Second, and more significantly, she faced substantial backlash for comments made about Indian migrants.
In September 2025, Price accused the Labor government of bringing in 'large numbers' of Indian migrants specifically to boost their electoral support. Several senior Coalition figures publicly called for Price to apologize for these remarks, but she maintained her position without retraction.
Following the initial controversy, Price further escalated the situation by resharing a lengthy post written by conservative commentator Rukshan Fernando. She then held an impromptu press conference where she notably refused to express confidence in Opposition Leader Sussan Ley.
Price's Defence of Her Position
During that press conference, Price acknowledged that her comments had been 'clumsy' but insisted that the broader issue of immigration deserved serious debate. 'The issue that's of great concern which I won't be silenced on is the issue of mass migration in our country,' she told reporters at the time.
'An issue that I truly believe that we need to be able to have a respectful debate about and we should all be focused on that,' she added, maintaining her focus on immigration policy despite the controversy surrounding her specific remarks about Indian migrants.
Potential Return to Frontbench
With Angus Taylor now leading the Liberal Party and assembling his shadow ministry team, political observers note that Price may have an opening to return to a portfolio position. Her recent meeting with journalist Karl Stefanovic to discuss her political future has further fueled speculation about her potential comeback.
The coming days will reveal whether Taylor will include Price in his new shadow ministry lineup, marking what would be a significant rehabilitation for the controversial senator following her 2025 departure from the frontbench.
