Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Price has accused journalists of being “obsessed with Donald Trump, after she was questioned about her choice of words at an election event promising supporters a Coalition government would “make Australia great again”.
The prominent Country Liberal senator took centre stage at Peter Dutton’s Perth media event on Saturday, with the Opposition Leader giving Senator Price open slather to answer questions from the enthusiastic press pack.
Senator Price has denied any link to US President Donald Trump in her use of the phrase “make Australia great again”. Picture Thomas Lisson / NewsWire
Her lengthy, passionate answers included rants against “ridiculous grants like colonising breastfeeding, like treating oral care as a form of colonisation in this country,” with Mr Dutton concluding the 45-minute press conference with a promise to give the Coalition’s Indigenous affairs and government efficiency spokeswoman a cabinet portfolio if he wins the election.
Initially Senator Price was questioned whether her call to “make Australia great again,” was a line borrowed from Mr Trump, however she denied any connection to the divisive president.
Speaking to Liberal Party stalwarts during the event, she said: “We have incredible candidates right around the country that I’m so proud to be able to stand beside and to ensure that we can make Australia great again, that we can bring Australia back to its former glory, that we can get Australia back on track,” she said.
Speaking to reporters later, she denied the connection.
Senator Price and Mr Dutton spoke to Liberal Party faithfuls at the event. Picture Thomas Lisson / NewsWire
“If I said that, I didn’t even realise I said that, but no, I’m an Australian and I want to ensure that we get Australia back on track,” she said.
Following sustained questioning, she then accused reporters of being “obsessed” with the US President.
“So let’s be very, very clear, media, you’re all obsessed with Donald Trump. We’re not,” she said.
“We’re not obsessed with Donald Trump. We’re actually obsessed with ensuring that we can improve the circumstances for Australians we’re governing for.”
The clash came after Senator Price was asked if she would rename her portfolio of government efficiency to distance herself from Mr Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, however she denied the connection.
“Just to clarify, it is not an ode to Donald Trump,” she said.
She instead said the portfolio targeting government efficiency would “cut red and green tape to ensure projects go ahead” and “reset the curriculum”.
Senator Price has said the department name is “not an ode to Donald Trump”. Picture Thomas Lisson / NewsWire
“We want to reset the curriculum, which is what our wonderful colleague Sarah Henderson (education spokeswoman) will do in the education portfolio so that we’re not coming up with silly ideas around ideological things like colonising breastfeeding and start actually focusing on real outcomes,” she said.
Mr Dutton was also asked if he thought using language linked the Trump campaign would assist his election efforts.
However his answer did not reference the US President, and said he wanted to “deal with the reality” struggling households are currently facing.
“You’ve got families out there at the moment, and we’ve spoken to them here in WA who can’t afford to pay their power bill, who can’t afford to pay their insurance bill, who can’t afford to,” he said.
“I mean, they’re making decisions at the moment about whether they insure their house or not, right? So let’s just deal with the reality for people.”
WA voters give Price hero’s welcome
Earlier on Saturday, Senator Price was enthusiastically welcomed to the stage by the 100-strong audience.
Following an introduction by Mr Dutton, Senator Price’s address to the audience drew immense cheers and applause.
One supporter was even seen waving a copy of her 2025 book: Matters of the Heart in the air during her speech.
Senator Price said Mr Dutton would put “Australians first”.
“I couldn’t be prouder to stand next to a man that I know puts Australians first, puts our vulnerable community members first,” she said.
“He did it previously as a police officer. He’s done it before in his previous positions as home affairs minister and many other ministries that he’s been able to hold.
“He’s got a proven track record that he will make the hard decisions, draw that line in the sand for the benefit, for the interest of Australians.”
North Perth resident Jenny Bloom described Senator Price as a “genuine, real deal person” and said supporter resonated with her honesty.
“She’s not scared to come out and call it as she sees it, even though she knows that there are Aboriginal people that don’t necessarily agree with her. She’s prepared to stand up and say: ‘This is, this is what I think, and this is what I know,’” she said.
“She also gets very frustrated with this whole inner city thinking, whereas people live in the inner city have no idea really what’s going on out in the regional and rural and remote areas.”
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