Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, has ignited a political firestorm and faces severe backlash following controversial comments made on a Sydney radio programme, where she asserted that British colonisation had 'no ongoing negative impacts' on Indigenous communities.
The contentious remarks, broadcast on Thursday, have drawn immediate and fierce condemnation from Indigenous leaders, academics, and political opponents, who have labelled them as historically inaccurate and deeply offensive.
Radio Remarks Spark Immediate Outrage
While appearing on Sydney Radio 2GB, Senator Price was questioned about her opposition to the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. In her response, she made the sweeping claim that colonisation had not inflicted lasting damage.
"I'll be honest with you, no,’’ she stated. "I do not think so. I mean, now we have running water, we have readily available food. I mean, everything that we have now is certainly an improvement... We have the same opportunities as all other Australians.’’
Wave of Condemnation from Indigenous Leaders
The reaction from the Indigenous community was swift and severe. Leading Indigenous academic and Voice architect, Professor Megan Davis, expressed her profound disappointment, suggesting the comments were a deliberate political tactic designed to provoke and divide.
Other community leaders pointed to the stark realities of intergenerational trauma, systemic disadvantage, and the stark gaps in life expectancy, health, and incarceration rates between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians as clear evidence of ongoing negative impacts.
A Political Storm for the No Campaign
The timing of Senator Price's comments is particularly sensitive, arriving in the final weeks before the historic referendum on the Voice to Parliament. As a prominent figure leading the 'No' campaign, her statements have threatened to dominate the news cycle and alienate undecided voters.
Political analysts suggest the controversy has handed a significant weapon to the 'Yes' campaign, allowing them to frame the 'No' side as out of touch with the lived experiences of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Opposition Leader has yet to comment publicly on his frontbencher's remarks.
The debate has since erupted across social media and news platforms, ensuring that Senator Price’s Sydney radio interview will remain a central point of discussion in the lead-up to the vote.
