Price backs Angus Taylor for Liberal leader, announces deputy bid

Just days after her controversial defection to the Liberal Party, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has taken an even bolder step.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has announced she is running for deputy Liberal leader. Picture Thomas Lisson / NewsWire

Just days after her shock defection to the Liberal Party drew fury from the Nationals, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has announced she is running for the senior Coalition partner’s deputy leadership.

Angus Taylor – a top contender for the Liberal leadership – swiftly welcomed the Northern Territory senator to the blue ranks after she said she was switching party rooms, sparking speculation she would run on a ticket with him.

Senator Price confirmed the rumours on Sunday, throwing her support behind Mr Taylor and formally announcing her deputy bid.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has announced she is running for deputy Liberal leader. Picture Thomas Lisson / NewsWire

“Today I announce my candidacy for the position of Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, and my endorsement of Angus Taylor’s candidacy for Leader of the Liberal Party,” she said in a statement.

“As I’ve said with respect to my decision to change party rooms, these are not matters which I take lightly, and this decision today brings with it a great deal of responsibility which I fully accept.”

With the Liberal Party bearing the Coalition’s losses in Labor’s landslide federal election win last week, Senator Price said there was “no question that returning to our roots as a party is critical right now”.

“If we want to inspire and empower Australians across our country, we must return to these roots – these basic values – that define who we are as a party,” she said.

“We must once more remember and fight for the forgotten people, those on whose shoulders Australian society has been built and still depends.”

Angus Taylor has praised Senator Price as ‘someone of great warmth, conviction and authenticity’. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Mr Taylor has taken to social media, praising Senator Price as “someone of great warmth, conviction and authenticity”.

“She has shown tremendous strength and commitment to standing up for what she believes in and will be an asset to the Liberal Party as we begin to rebuild,” he said.

.@JNampijinpa is someone of great warmth, conviction and authenticity. She has shown tremendous strength and commitment to standing up for what she believes in and will be an asset to the Liberal Party as we begin to rebuild. pic.twitter.com/6U5AEbHuVy

— Angus Taylor MP (@AngusTaylorMP) May 10, 2025

More to come.

Originally published as Price backs Angus Taylor for Liberal leader, announces deputy bid