Jacinta Nampijinpa Price Makes Political Comeback in Liberal Frontbench Reshuffle
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has finalised his reshaped Shadow Cabinet, with Jacinta Nampijinpa Price set to return to the Liberal Party frontbench in a significant political comeback. Taylor has appointed Price as Shadow Minister for Small Business, Skills and Training, reinstating her to the senior Coalition team just months after she was removed from former leader Sussan Ley's shadow ministry.
Key Appointments in Taylor's New Shadow Cabinet Lineup
The reshuffle brings several notable figures back to prominent positions. Former leadership contender Andrew Hastie will also rejoin the frontbench, following his resignation from Ley's shadow cabinet over issues relating to immigration policy. Deputy Leader Jane Hume will serve as Shadow Minister for Employment, Industrial Relations and Productivity.
In another significant appointment, Goldstein MP Tim Wilson, a moderate and supporter of Sussan Ley, will serve as Shadow Treasurer. Wilson was the only Liberal candidate to win back a seat from a Teal Independent at the 2025 election, defeating Zoe Daniel in what was considered a major victory for the party.
Price's Controversial Departure and Subsequent Return
Price's comeback follows her September 2025 departure from the shadow ministry, when Ley asked her to step down after a dispute over comments Price made about Indian migrants and her refusal to publicly endorse Ley's leadership. On 10 September 2025, Price told the ABC the Albanese government was accepting 'large numbers' of Indian migrants to bolster Labor's vote share—an assertion she later conceded was a 'mistake'.
Ley considered the remarks 'deeply hurtful' to Indian Australians and said maintaining confidence in the leader was a fundamental requirement for serving in the shadow ministry. At the time, Ley declared that Price had 'failed the test' expected of shadow ministers. Price later described her comments as 'clumsy,' though she stopped short of issuing an explicit apology.
Taylor's Strategy to Stabilise the Liberal Party
Hastie's return to a senior role further signals Taylor's intention to bring former leadership aspirants back into the fold and stabilise the party after months of internal turbulence. The National Party will also return to the Shadow Cabinet, after a brief period of absence, as Taylor seeks to present a united opposition front.
Just days after Taylor ousted Ley as Liberal leader, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price used a fiery appearance on The Karl Stefanovic Show to signal her political comeback. 'I'm back, baby. I'm back. Don't worry about that. I'm back,' she declared. 'I was having a breather, but I'm back.'
Price Addresses Past Conflicts with Colleagues
During her television appearance, Price also targeted colleagues she accused of abandoning her during last year's controversy, specifically Manager of Opposition Business Alex Hawke, who had publicly urged her to apologise. 'I think it was fairly evident that Mr Hawke there had a good old crack,' she said. 'I had a very stern conversation with him.'
Price elaborated further, stating: 'Don't try to gaslight me or accuse me of something I've done and have not done, and don't try to force me to apologise for something that doesn't require an apology. And don't apologise on my behalf, I've got my own voice.'
The reshuffle represents a significant shift in the Liberal Party's leadership approach, with Taylor bringing back experienced figures who had previously been sidelined. Price's return to the frontbench, despite the controversy that led to her departure, suggests Taylor is willing to overlook past conflicts in his effort to rebuild the party's electoral prospects ahead of the next federal election.
