Jacinta Price announces she’s quitting the Nationals to join the Liberals

Senator Jacinta Price has announced she will join the embattled Liberal Party when federal parliament resumes.

Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has announced she will switch political parties when federal parliament resumes this year and contest the Liberal Party deputy leadership.

The second-term Northern Territory Country Liberal Party Senator has been sitting on the Nationals benches in the Senate since being elected in 2022.

But Senator Price on Thursday confirmed rumours that had been swirling for days that she would quit the Nationals to sit with the Liberal Party on the Senate benches.

In a statement the Senator said the decision had not been taken lightly and “in no way” reflected on the National Party.

NT Senator Jacinta Price at the CLP after-party at the Alice Springs Brewing Co on the day of the federal election, May 3, 2025. Picture: Gera Kazakov

“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.”

Country Liberal Party senators traditionally sit with the Nationals while previous CLP House of Representatives members sat on the Liberal Party benches.

Senator Price advised the CLP in writing of her decision on Thursday.

“I am aware of the convention that dictates I am to sit with the Nationals party room in Canberra,” she said.

“I am also however, acutely aware of the need to act in the best interests of Territorians and our country more broadly. This is the reason I entered politics, and must remain my reason for the decisions I make.

“The most recent election result was nothing short of historic and was devastating for all members of the Coalition. Consequently, there is a significant task of rebuilding that lies ahead for the Coalition but particularly for the Liberal Party. Therefore it is my strong conviction that despite convention, my time and effort will be best served as part of the Liberal Party.

NT Senator Jacinta Price speaks to an Alice Springs resident after casting her vote alongside her husband Colin Lillie in the 2025 federal election at Braitling Primary School, Alice Springs, May 3, 2025. Picture: Gera Kazakov

“If there is anything that my first term in parliament has taught me, it is how to fight for the benefit of those in my electorate of the Territory, but also for Australians right across the country.

“Regardless of which party room I choose to sit in, I remain absolutely committed to that goal as my first priority.

“Thank you for your ongoing support for myself and the broader Coalition team. I look forward to continuing to work with you all as we take our country forward together.”

Saturday’s election was a debacle for the Liberal Party, which currently holds 40 House of Representatives seats compared with 61 before Saturday’s poll. The Australian Labor Party currently holds 90 electorates with another 20 still to be finalised.

Senator Price, who earnt a national profile campaigning against Labor’s Voice to parliament referendum, has previously been linked to a move to federal parliament’s lower house, which would allow her to contest leadership positions within the party.

INITIAL - Price is right?: Senator’s future up in the air as party switch looms

Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has refused to rule out leaving behind the ochre and black of the Northern Territory Country Liberal Party for Liberal Party blue.

Asked by Sky News presenter Chris Kenny on Monday night whether she would continue sitting with the National Party courtesy of her ties with the CLP, Senator Price refused to commit to the NT brand.

“I know under the CLP traditionally you must sit in the Nationals party room, would you consider seeking to change that so you could sit in the Liberals party room?,” Mr Kenny asked.

Senator Price said that with voting not yet finalised, conservative politicians were trying to get their heads around what had happened,” on Saturday.

Chris Kenny with Senator Price’s husband Colin Lillie at The Australian's 60th Anniversary Gala Dinner last year.

“There’s a lot to consider in all of this going forward and what I do know is that we need to figure out where we went wrong so we don’t repeat those mistakes … there is a lot to consider at this point in time,” she said.

“I can guarantee one thing is that I’m absolutely going to go hard no matter what I’m doing.”

Mr Kenny then pursued the Senator, pointing out she had not ruled out a switch to the Liberal Party room.

“Yeah, look, as I said, there’s a lot to consider right now at this point in them and what we need to be able to do is be in a strong position going forward so that we can rebuild as a Coalition and as part of the Nats.

“We need to support the Libs in that direction, absolutely. I’m a fighter and no matter what I’ll be fighting.”

NT Senator Jacinta Price at the CLP after-party at the Alice Springs Brewing Co on Saturday. Picture: Gera Kazakov

The NT News contacted Senator Price’s office for clarification, but a response had not been provided at deadline.

It’s not the first time Senator Price’s political allegiances have been raised.

In February last year the Senator shut down rumours she could leave the Northern Territory to run for the House of Representatives in former Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s Cook electorate.

Senator Price was also falsely linked to former Liberal MP Warren Entsch’s Far North Queensland seat of Leichardt, which he vacated prior to the weekend’s federal election. A spokesman dismissed the claims at the time.

“The senator’s focus is on the Northern Territory and helping the people being failed by out-of-touch federal and Territory Labor governments,” he said.

Senator Price developed a national profile through her opposition to the 2023 Voice referendum.

Senator Price is the Territory’s only CLP federal representative, with one Senate and two House or Representatives seats held by Labor. The CLP could not be reached for comment.