Sorry seems to be the hardest word, as North Shore Libs split on Jacinta Price

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s Darwin office is about 4,000km from Sydney's North Shore, but in recent days her name has been on the lips of two local conservative politicians — state MP Tim James and federal MP Julian Leeser. 

Not to mention plenty of residents, including members of the Indian-Australian community like Chatswood business owner Avinder Singh.

Last week James, who holds the NSW seat of Willoughby, had Price as guest speaker at a fundraiser held at Doltone House’s Hyde Park venue. 

The senator’s visit came in the wake of comments she had made on the ABC about immigration, in which she claimed the Albanese government was allowing large numbers of Indians to come to Australia because "the [Indian] community votes for Labor".

The backlash from within her own party, and the wider Australian community, was swift, but as of early Wednesday afternoon — despite the mounting pressure from colleagues — Price had doggedly refused to say the words “I’m sorry”. Instead, she issued a statement about Australia’s non-discriminatory immigration policies, and blamed the media for taking her words out of context.

Regarding his decision to invite Price to speak at his fundraising event, James released a statement to the media last Thursday saying that “[Price has] clarified her position, corrected her comments” and “has a love and respect for people from all corners of the earth”. 

For federal Berowra MP Julian Leeser, a moderate force within the conservative ranks, Price's comments were completely out of line, and Leeser has in recent days met with members of the Indian community inside and outside his electorate in an attempt to try and undo the damage caused by the remarks.

“My colleague, Jacinta Price, said something this week that I want to apologise unreservedly for,” Leeser said on Sunday at a community event held at IABBV Hindi School.

And then on Tuesday, with Price still refusing to say sorry, the leader of the NSW opposition, Mark Speakman, issued a statement: “I and the NSW Coalition are sorry for the deep hurt many Indian Australians feel after a federal senator’s offensive comments last week”.

The Lorikeet spoke to Avinder Singh, who owns an Indian grocer on Sydney’s lower North Shore. 

“All the migrants here work hard, pay tax, and contribute to the Australian economy,” Singh said. “She should apologise, 100 percent.”

Singh said that if Price “doesn't want to apologise … she should give proof that migrants are causing a problem in Australia”.

He said he had “never seen those attitudes reflected in the North Shore”.

Thumbnail: Steven Saphore, Lukas Coch, Mick Tsikas via AAP