Jacinta Price accuses Sun-Herald columnist Peter FitzSimons of being ‘aggressive’ and ‘rude’ to her during an interview

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price claims Peter FitzSimons accused her of ‘giving racists a voice’ when he interviewed her.

Jacinta Price in the Senate Chamber in Parliament House in Canberra last month. Picture: Gary Ramage

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has accused newspaper columnist and author Peter FitzSimons of being aggressive and rude to her during an interview, alleging he accused her of “giving racists a voice”.

The newly elected Country Liberal Party senator took to Facebook on Sunday to level the claims at FitzSimons after his interview with her ran in Nine’s Sun-Herald newspaper.

The social media post read in part: “I don’t know if I’d do another interview with the bloke again. He accused me of giving racists a voice but that wasn’t printed.”

Senator Price appeared to have removed the post late on Sunday.

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

Peter FitzSimons.

Senator Price, a Warlpiri woman who has been vocal about her concerns over Labor’s proposed Indigenous voice to parliament, told The Australian FitzSimons was “condescending and rude” towards her – a claim FitzSimons denied.

Senator Price said her conversation with FitzSimons “was like talking to a brick wall” and she was left “insulted”.

The phone interview was conducted on Thursday afternoon and Senator Price said while it started off “quite well”, the columnist soon became “aggressive”.

“I’m not a wilting violet but he’s a very aggressive bloke, his interview style is very bloody aggressive, he doesn’t need to launch in,” she said.

“Accusing me of somehow giving power to racists because the issues I raise are confronting – he loses the point completely.

“I said to him, ‘Get down from the bloody ivory tower and come out to one of my communities’.”

When contacted by The Australian on Sunday night, FitzSimons said Senator Price’s claims were “complete and utter … nonsense”, and described their interview, which lasted for an hour, as a “professional exchange”.

“Every single word recorded, as I told her,” FitzSimons said in a text message to The Australian.

“Not even a raised voice. And she approved the entire final result.

“This is not remotely a matter of interpretation. Friendly interview, nice text exchange at its conclusion.”

Senator Price said while she did not regret the interview, she was shocked by FitzSimons’ ignorance on Indigenous issues.

“I was really taken aback and I was exhausted by the energy it took having to defend myself. I was made to feel as though what I was trying to do is wrong and my voice is not as legitimate as those who purport to suffer from 250 years of colonisation,” Senator Price said.

FitzSimons’ interview covered colonisation, reconciliation, the voice to parliament, and the Indigenous politician’s own upbringing.