Politicians claim Jacinta Price’s stocks have never been higher after Voice campaign

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has been hailed within the Coalition as “genuine and authentic” and “a force to be reckoned with” for her role in helping lead the No campaign to victory against a well-funded opposition backed by corporate and sporting elites.

Senator Jacinta Price at the National No Event, at the Hyatt Regency Brisbane, on Saturday 14th October 2023 - Photo Steve Pohlner

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is being hailed as being “genuine and authentic” and “force to be reckoned with” across the Coalition for her role in helping lead the No campaign against the Voice to Parliament to victory against a well-funded Yes campaign backed by corporate and sporting elites.

As both Labor and the Coalition pored through the results of Saturday’s referendum, multiple Liberal and National figures praised Price as well as fellow No campaigner, shadow child protection and family violence minister Kerrynne Liddle, for work that had been “sensational.”

Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie said that Price had brought a “lived experience to the campaign” that was impossible to duplicate.

“She really catalysed broader Australia’s perspective about what the question was that was being asked at the referendum and what we could all do as Australians to have better outcomes for marginalised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.”

“The fact that she (and Liddle) are both strong Indigenous women means that there was that genuine authenticity to their campaign.”

Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. Picture: Keryn Stevens

NSW Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes also praised Price, saying she had been “simply amazing” as part of a team with Liddle and fellow No campaigner Warren Mundine

Ms Price’s performance, she said, proved “reconciliation is not dead,” adding that she “looked forward” to Labor and the Greens supporting a motion put forward by Price and Liddle calling for an inquiry into Land Council expenditures.

Former House speaker Bronwyn Bishop said Price was “outstanding”.

“Whenever you mention her name people say she is outstanding, and the thing about her is she will go a long way in politics, she has been tested, she has shown she has the fortitude,” she said.

“She can explain situations well and she brings a new way of thinking … it’s fine for the old brigade, the Marcia Langtons and others who preach victimhood, but it is time to let the new thinking come through.”

Senator Jacinta Price campaigning for the No vote at the Marden Shopping centre. Picture Kelly Barnes

“She is a force to be reckoned with.”

The 42-year-old senator has enjoyed a rise that one insider called “meteoric” from her entry into politics as a councillor on the Alice Springs Town Council in 2015, eventually becoming deputy mayor before moving into federal politics at the 2022 election.

In her maiden speech to the Senate, Ms Price foreshadowed many of the themes that would come to the fore in the No campaign and called for “economic independence” for Aboriginal Australians.

“My goal is to halt the pointless virtue signalling and focus on solutions that bring real change.”

Earlier on Sunday, fellow Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash said Sunday that “we never had (a senator like) Jacinta Nampijinpa Price … this is actually quite frankly a historic moment for Australia.”

While many Liberals and No camp supporters, others have been critical of her messaging.

Speaking Sunday on the ABC’s Insiders, former national Indigenous affairs correspondent Isabella Higgins called her a “potent campaigner” but said Ms Price’s remarks about colonisation providing benefits to Aboriginal Australians was “untrue.”

Originally published as Politicians claim Jacinta Price’s stocks have never been higher after Voice campaign