A turning point or just another bump in the long road to a Federal Liberal rebuild? I’m talking about the demotion of Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, dumped from the Shadow Ministry by Opposition Leader Sussan Ley after a week of criticism and party in fighting. At the heart of it, the Senator’s comments around Indian migrants, suggesting Labor was favoring Indians because they would vote Labor. So the Senator is still in the Liberal Party, but now on the back bench. So is it a turning point, a line in the sand for Sussan Ley as leader? This is what James Patterson, the Shadow Finance Minister and Liberal Frontbencher, told Radio National Breakfast this morning.
James Patterson
Well, I’m very disappointed that Jacinta is no longer serving on the front bench, because Jacinta is a friend of mine and also someone who I think has great Liberal contribution to make, and was doing a good job on our front bench, but the conventions of the Westminster system of government are very clear, and I’m institutionally someone who is very conservative, and they’re there for good reason. If you can’t support the leader, then you can no longer serve on the front bench. So I support the action that Sussan has had to take.
Ali Moore
James Patterson there. Well, Paul Scarr is The Shadow Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. Paul Scarr, welcome to 774. Drive.
Senator Scarr
Good to be with you. Ali and your listeners.
Ali Moore
Was it the right decision to demote Senator Price?
Senator Scarr
I think Sussan, given all the circumstances, including the need to maintain Shadow Cabinet solidarity, had no choice but to make sure that everyone in the cabinet supports the leaders authority and leadership, and it’s a core principle of cabinet solidarity that everyone needs to get behind the leader and be able to express their confidence in the leader.
Ali Moore
So in essence, she wasn’t demoted because of what she said regarding Indian migrants, she was demoted entirely for not publicly supporting her leader?
Senator Scarr
If you read Sussan Ley’s statement, she actually touches upon both elements. So the fact that a Shadow Minister, and it doesn’t really matter who it is, was asked to provide confidence in the leadership, and failed to do so, that in itself, is something which is not tenable from a cabinet solidarity perspective. And Sussan also raised the issue with respect to the hurt and distress that has been caused in our wonderful Australian Indian community, in relation to the remarks which were made last week, and the fact that time and space had been provided for an apology to be given, but an apology had not been given.
Ali Moore
I guess, though, and particularly given that lack of apology and the amount of hurt in the community, and we’ve spoken to the local Indian community here in Victoria. Given that, there could be an argument could there not, that this demotion should have happened anyway? It would seem from the way events have unfolded, it was really the refusal to support the leader that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. If that hadn’t happened, she’d still be sitting happily on the front bench?
Senator Scarr
I don’t agree with that analysis, I believe if you look at Sussan’s statement, which was released when the decision was made late yesterday, it actually refers to both points. It refers to the fact that there is substantial hurt and distress in the community, as you’ve referred to and the fact that confidence was not expressed in the Leader in contravention of principles of cabinet solidarity. So I think both issues were key.
Ali Moore
Paul Scarr, you also made the point that in the leader’s message, she also notes that there has been space and time given for an apology that has not been forthcoming. Why do you think it is that Senator Price won’t apologize. Have you spoken to her? You are Shadow Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. Have you asked her why?
Senator Scarr
I spoke to Jacinta the next day after the comments were initially made, and Jacinta expressed to me her connection with the Indian community, in particular in Alice Springs, where she was Deputy Mayor. She spoke to me about family connections, family heritage, family with a connection to Indian heritage. So we discussed all of those issues, but in terms of Jacinta’s response, I just leave that to Jacinta.
Ali Moore
But when you had that discussion with her about family ties, family heritage. Did she say this is why I am not apologizing. Did she address it?
Senator Scarr
I’m not going to go into any further detail with respect to that discussion. The fact I referred to those issues was just to show, I think Jacinta has said that she certainly didn’t have any intent to offend Australians of Indian heritage, and she actually made that clear in a very extensive interview that she gave to a very substantial social media publication that reaches out to the Indian community. And she gave that interview on Saturday. So that’s why I emphasize those points, but it’s not for me to speak for Jacinta.
Ali Moore
You’re listening to Paul Scarr, who’s the Shadow Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, have you reached out to the Indian community yourself? I know that Sussan Ley visited the Indian communities in Sydney. I know you’re from Queensland. Has anyone actually spoken with the Victorian communities?
Senator Scarr
I have had discussions with the Indian community in Sydney. I was actually with Sussan Ley last Sunday in Little India in Harris Park in Sydney, and I also attended a round table with senior members of the Indian community in Sydney. I’m having meetings with the Indian community here in Brisbane, and I certainly look forward to engagement with the community in Victoria.
Ali Moore
Do you acknowledge that moving Senator Price to the backbench does not immediately fix the hurt and harm? That you still have an issue with the relationships with the Indian community?
Senator Scarr
It was very significant today that Sussan Ley issued an apology on behalf of the Liberal Party, and that has to be seen in the context of of Jacinta now being demoted to the back bench. So I think those are very two significant events.
Ali Moore
I guess they could ask how significant. So you’ve had a Leader who’s been forced to apologize on behalf of a party for something that she never said, because the person who did say it won’t apologize.
Senator Scarr
I think it’s very significant that Sussan made the statement she made today. I think it’s very significant at the first opportunity, we’ve sought to engage with the diaspora, the Indian diaspora community across the whole of Australia, and we’ll continue to do that. And we’ve got to build this relationship. It’s absolutely vital to the future of the Liberal Party.
Ali Moore
If there are certain views that are held by Senator Price is she potentially more dangerous for the Liberal Party on the back bench? She’ll be much more free to speak her mind.
Senator Scarr
Well, that’s all of that is a matter for Jacinta. Jacinta is a very strong advocate for the issues she cares about, and as I say, she’s acknowledged it was a mistake. To make the remarks she made last week were a mistake, and she’s acknowledged that, so I think that needs to be recognized as well.
Ali Moore
Has this weakened or strengthened your new leader’s position? Sussan Ley as Leader.
Senator Scarr
From my perspective, Sussan has discharged her responsibilities, as you’d expect a leader to discharge them. So when this incident occurred, Sussan has reached out to the Indian diaspora for engagement. There’s obviously been the the issue around the apology and appropriate action was taken yesterday by Sussan as leader of the Liberal Party, and to be frank, I would expect the same action would have been taken by any leader of the Liberal Party.
Ali Moore
But do you think it undermines her leadership that she was forced to do this?
Senator Scarr
No,
Ali Moore
So is her leadership as strong as it was prior to this happenin? Given that a member of her party has refused to back her publicly, that’s been the second reason for her demotion.
Senator Scarr
Well, I think Sussan has acted entirely appropriately in terms of how she’s discharged her obligations as Leader at the Federal Liberal Party, and I support Sussan in every possible way.
Ali Moore
So what next for the liberals? Do you think? Where do you go from here?
Senator Scarr
Well, we need to continue working we need to continue holding the Labor Government to account, and we need to continue working up the suite of policies to take to the next election. And from my perspective, as the Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism, the work never ends in terms of building those relationships with our Multicultural Communities. And it’s so important that the foundation stones of those relationships are laid, so when issues like over the last week occur, we can engage with the community, address those issues and then move on.
Ali Moore
Paul Scar, many thanks for joining Drive.
