The Australian political landscape has served up a dish of irony so rich it could headline a satire festival. Jacinta Price, the Northern Territory senator who defected from the Nationals to the Liberal Party after the federal election, has been relegated to the outer ministry in Sussan Ley’s new shadow cabinet. Yes, the same Jacinta Price who boldly claimed “many people” want her as prime minister now finds herself sidelined to the defence industry portfolio – hardly the glittering stage for her self-proclaimed destiny.
Price’s defection was a gamble that reeked of ambition. She jumped ship from the Nationals, where she was a rising star, having played a key role in defeating the Voice referendum as shadow spokeswoman for Indigenous Australians. Had she stayed, whispers in Canberra suggest she’d likely have secured the deputy leadership of the Nationals and a coveted frontbench role, possibly even keeping her Indigenous Affairs portfolio. Instead, she rolled the dice, joining the Liberals on a ticket with Angus Taylor to contest the deputy leadership – only to see Taylor lose to Ley, and her own star dimmed in the aftermath.
Now, relegated to the outer ministry, Price’s new gig in the defence industry portfolio feels like a cosmic jest. Here’s a senator who claimed to speak for the masses, who donned a MAGA cap and echoed “make Australia great again,” now tasked with a niche role that’s more about shipbuilding contracts than national leadership. It’s a far cry from the prime ministerial throne she hinted at, and the irony isn’t lost on her former Nationals colleagues. They’re quietly smirking – some openly fuming – knowing she’d have been a shadow cabinet heavyweight had she stayed loyal.
This is political parody at its finest: a self-styled populist, craving the spotlight, demoted to the wings. Price’s ambition, once a blazing fire, now flickers in the shadows of Ley’s frontbench. The defence industry might be her new battleground, but it’s hard to imagine her rallying troops from the outer ministry. For now, her prime ministerial dreams remain just that – dreams, mocked by the very system she thought she could conquer.
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The treacherous, backstabbing Jacinta Price is getting everything she deserves! Not happy with betraying her colleagues in the National Party, this woman (of aboriginal heritage) went on to support and join the biggest pack of misogynistic rusted-on racists in our nation's history, ie the chest-beating alpha male white supremacists in the LNP! WOW! Not only did she ruthlessly betray her OWN people, she betrayed her own sex by cheering on and supporting a notorious pack of political misogynists like Phony Abbott who's sexist speech began with "“What the housewives of Australia need to understand as they do the ironing ......." - REALLY? I don't think ANY intelligent woman in Australia heard ANYTHING that appalling misogynist said after the first 13 words, eh? In fact, in this day and age where many women are holding down at least one, possibly TWO jobs, outside the home, there are MANY husbands and boyfriends out there who pull their weight and help out with the housework - MY husband is one of them and it is HE that does all the ironing in OUR household! As such, Abbott is not only a regressive, outmoded Neanderthal, he is completely out of step with the reality of modern life!
Are these the type of right-wing political reprobates that Jacinta Price wants to sign-up with? Hmmmmmph! Says SO MUCH about Jacinta Price's total lack of discernment and NONE of it good. Not surprised that Price was relegated to the outer ministry in Sussan Ley’s new shadow cabinet; no-one will EVER trust a traitor!
As far as political leadership is concerned, the PRICE will NEVER be right!
I think they are working out that some of these politicians are politicians who contributed radically to the huge defeat the Tories have just suffered.
Perceptive analysis Michael.
As a mate reminded me recently: Hubris always finds its target
They're putting ship building contracts in her hands!? Isn't the navy in trouble enough!?
An opportunist at best, a treacherous turncoat at worst. She will never prosper - she's shown her true colours
I cannot think of a more unsuitable person to oversee this vital portfolio. What are her qualifications for this position it certainly highlights the LNP lack of interest in defence issues.
Paul, she is shadow minister.... she can look at ship building but cannot influence it.
I work with and am friends with a number of indigenous people, and to a person they say that she does not represent them in any way shape or form.
They describe her position on The Voice as a self-serving betrayal.
According to Schwartz media it was Abbott who suggested the move!
Price has oodles of self-belief.
The tiniest suggestion of her future “greatness” will see her jumping as high as her superiors suggest.
Some people are like easter eggs. They are born hollow.
Begs the question, how has someone with few if any skills or endearing feautures, can get so far in politics when loathed by so many LNP voters?
Of course nothing to do with Abbott/Advance, CIS/IPA/Rhinehart and Murdoch led media to assuage the moral and ethical cognitive dissonance of Voice Referendum No voters; a psyops on ageing electorates......