Country Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has announced her defection from the Nationals to the federal Liberal party room, declaring she can be more “effective” in championing the “best interests of all Australians.” The move, confirmed on Thursday, comes just days after last Saturday’s federal election saw Peter Dutton lose his seat and triggered a leadership contest within the Liberals. Price hinted she may run for the deputy leadership alongside shadow treasurer Angus Taylor, setting the stage for a high-stakes contest at Tuesday’s party room meeting.
“This has been a massive step. I will not put any limitations on myself,” Price told Sky News when asked about her leadership ambitions. “I have always been led by the Australian people and will continue to do so.”
Her declaration underscores the fluidity of party allegiances in the Northern Territory’s unique political landscape, where the Country Liberal Party (CLP) can choose to sit with either the Nationals or Liberals in federal parliament. Price has sat with the Nationals since entering the Senate in 2022, but she believes the Liberal ranks will better serve her platform of conservative, “common-sense” policymaking.
Ambitions for Deputy Leadership
In her announcement, Price praised the Liberal Party’s potential for renewal and described herself as eager to help steer it “toward the centre.” Sources close to shadow treasurer Angus Taylor confirm he has privately welcomed the possibility of a ticket pairing with Price. Taylor posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he is “delighted” by her decision to join the Liberals.
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“Jacinta is a tireless advocate for Liberal values and a good friend,” Taylor wrote. “Jacinta will be another strong voice at a time the Liberal Party must rebuild.”
Price’s entry into the deputy leadership race will put her in direct competition with incumbent deputy leader Sussan Ley, who has already secured high-profile public endorsements from former New South Wales premiers Jeff Kennett, Nick Greiner and Barry O’Farrell. Though Ley remains widely viewed as the frontrunner, Price’s defection injects fresh unpredictability into the contest, particularly among the party’s conservative faction.
Context: Price’s Rise to National Prominence
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, 44, first entered federal parliament in the 2022 election after a career as a community advocate and commentator. Born in Alice Springs to a Warlpiri mother and an Irish father, she made her mark as a vocal critic of the government’s Indigenous policies and as the face of the successful “No” campaign in last year’s Voice to Parliament referendum. Her direct, often polarizing style earned her both fierce loyalty among conservative voters and strong criticism from progressive groups.
In January, Peter Dutton appointed Price to a newly created “efficient government” portfolio, a move that drew comparisons—both jesting and critical—to populist figures in the United States. She further stoked controversy by adopting the slogan “Make Australia Great Again” at a Perth rally, echoing former President Donald Trump’s catchphrase and cementing her reputation as a firebrand.
Implications for the Liberal Leadership Contest
Following the federal election, the Liberal Party faces the task of replacing Peter Dutton as leader while protecting its center-right identity against perceptions of creeping populism. A Price–Taylor leadership duo would represent a distinct rightward shift compared to a Dutton–Ley ticket, which many saw as more traditionally conservative and policy-focused. Price’s brand of politics—combining strong national security, tough-on-border stance and cultural conservatism—may appeal to the party’s rural and outer-suburban base.
However, some Liberal moderates warn that elevating Price could drive the party further away from middle-Australia. One backbencher quipped that Price was jockeying for the deputy role in a party room she had “never sat in.” Another observed that “Taylor’s economics and Price’s MAGA-style sloganeering were unequivocally rejected by voters last week,” underscoring electoral risks in embracing a hardline image.
As the Liberals prepare to convene on Tuesday, caucus members will weigh these considerations amid secret ballots likely to be tightly contested. While Ley retains the organizational and establishment support of senior moderates, Price is expected to draw votes from the party’s conservative grassroots.
Reactions from the Nationals
Price’s departure left Nationals leader David Littleproud disappointed. He lamented that the Nationals had “negotiated an extra position in [the] shadow cabinet before the election” with Price in mind and had backed her early in the Voice campaign.
“I appreciate Senator Nampijinpa Price has ambition that extends beyond the possibilities of the Nationals and I wish her well,” Littleproud said.
Nationals senator Matt Canavan was more pointed, accusing Price of putting personal ambition “over the will of voters.” He noted that Price had been elected on Saturday as a Nationals member and argued she should have nominated as a Liberal candidate had that been her genuine intent.
“Jacinta’s act is no different than Lidia Thorpe switching sides,” Canavan wrote on social media, referencing the Greens senator who defected to sit as an Independent. “Why didn’t she contest a Liberal ticket at the election if that was her plan?”
Mixed Reactions within the Liberals
Within Liberal ranks, Price’s defection has elicited both warm welcomes and wary skepticism. Senator David Sharma, a moderate from New South Wales, praised her advocacy but cautioned against repeating the U.S.-style public endorsements that had characterised the Ley campaign.
“This is not a U.S. primary,” Sharma said. “Our leadership contest should be conducted with dignity and unity, not headline-grabbing rallies.”
Former premiers Kennett, Greiner and O’Farrell, however, fired public shots of support for Ley, emphasizing her steady senior-minister experience. Their decision to go public irked some Taylor supporters who argued the process should remain internal.
“Those endorsements won’t peel many votes off Angus,” one Taylor ally remarked. “The real battle will be at the secret ballot on Tuesday.”
The Road to Tuesday’s Party Room Vote
The Liberal party room will meet in Canberra on Tuesday afternoon. First, MPs will elect their leader; the victor will then nominate a deputy, who must be confirmed by a separate vote. The leadership contest has effectively become a two-horse race: Sussan Ley, backed by the moderate establishment, versus the emerging Taylor–Price coalition appealing to conservative rank-and-file members.
Key battlegrounds include:
- Factional allegiances: Moderates versus conservatives, with each side mobilizing block votes.
- Regional versus metropolitan interests: Price’s strength in remote and rural electorates contrasts with Ley’s base in urban strongholds.
- Policy direction: Debates over nuclear energy, border security and Indigenous policy will test the candidates’ ability to present a unifying vision.
MPs will also consider strategic imperatives: the need to rebuild after the election defeat, reconnect with centrist voters and craft policies capable of challenging the new Labor government.
Stakes for the Coalition’s Future
The result of Tuesday’s vote will shape the Coalition’s identity as it heads into opposition. A Ley victory would likely maintain a centrist approach on economic management and social policy, aiming to reclaim urban seats. A Price-deputy, Taylor-leader pairing could pivot the party to a more conservative platform, prioritizing tough border controls, energy sovereignty and cultural-traditionalist issues.
Either outcome will send a clear message about who the Liberals believe their core voters are and how they intend to differentiate themselves from Labor. With the government holding a sizable majority and the Nationals in a weaker negotiating position, unity within the Coalition is paramount.
Conclusion: A Defining Moment for Jacinta Price and the Liberals
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s defection and her hint at a bid for deputy leadership represent a bold gamble with far-reaching consequences. In one swift move, she has repositioned herself at the heart of the Liberal leadership contest, offering the party a high-profile, uncompromising conservative voice. Whether her ambition translates into the deputy’s chair will depend on her ability to persuade enough colleagues that her brand of politics can revitalize the party without alienating centrist voters. As the Liberal party room prepares to choose its next leadership team, all eyes will be on Tuesday’s ballot—a bellwether for the Coalition’s ideological direction and its prospects of returning to government.
