Indigenous Senator Jacinta Price has shifted from the Nationals party room to the Liberal Party, in a move aimed at trying to shift the centre-right party towards a more conservative future.
The announcement comes as the Liberal Party picks up the pieces after it suffered its worst defeat since formation last weekend.
On the afternoon of May 8, Price issued a formal statement explaining that her move was not a reflection on the National Party, but rather a stepping stone to more widespread representation.
“I am deeply appreciative of the opportunities the National Party under David Littleproud’s leadership has given me, most notably the responsibility of leading the ‘No’ campaign in the Voice referendum,” she said.
“I do however feel the Liberal Party is my natural home and somewhere I can contribute meaningfully.”
Price said she felt “obliged to play a robust part” in rebuilding the Liberal Party.
“I am eager to fight for the best interests of all Australians as part of the Coalition,” she said.
“I believe it will be more effective in this regard if I am a member of the Liberal Party, especially as the party faces a significant rebuild after Saturday.
“I want to bring back our core values of liberty, individual freedom and responsibility, the rule of law, free market and economic prosperity, minimal government intervention, a fair go and most of all, love for our nation, Australia.”
MPs have been working behind the scenes to elect a new leader and forge the future direction of the party: either appealing to the “centre”—a position favoured by the moderates—or to continue along a more conservative direction, which aligns more closely with the current Republican administration in the United States.
Price said the party needed to learn from its mistakes and take a stronger approach.
“Let this be the moment we stop whispering our values and start declaring them again, not as fringe ideas, but as the foundation on which this country was built,” she said.
“Let this serve as a reminder that our duty is not to win favour with the few, but to stand united with the many—those who Menzies recognised, those who Howard defended, and those we must fight for now.”
The Liberal and National parties have successfully collaborated federally for more than 100 years, with the Nationals acting as the junior partner in the alliance.
Normally, this means a smaller portion of Cabinet roles goes to National MPs, and higher tier portfolios have in recent decades gone to Liberal Party MPs.
During Price’s first term in government from 2022-25, she sat with the Nationals, but being a member of the Northern Territory’s Country Liberal Party gives her the option of changing party rooms.
