Senator Nampijinpa Price talks to Paul Murray, Sky News 

2 March 2026

Subjects: Small Business Portfolio; Iran

E&OE……………

PAUL MURRAY:

Thank you very much for watching. One of the best things about a change in leadership for the Liberal Party has been the return to the Shadow Ministry and Shadow Cabinet of Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, she's having responsibility to focus on the failures of this government when it comes to small business. Again, congratulations on your appointment, Senator. Lovely to talk to you. Now, I'm from a family who've come and gone from plenty of small businesses, so it's in my blood and I understand what the risk is. We support small business because these are the people who want to live outside of dependence of government. They want to do it for themselves and the only way they get a pay rise is to get up an hour earlier and go to bed an hour later. Yet, the one you are opposite, the Minister Anne Aly, well, I'm not entirely sure what her experience is when it comes to the business world. What's your focus going to be in taking it up to these guys and gals when it comes to small business?

SENATOR JACINTA NAMPIJINPA PRICE:

In a past life, I ran a small business and had a wonderful opportunity of training young Indigenous people in my little production company. Small businesses are the economic engine of this country, and they make up 97 per cent of Australian businesses. So that's just over five million Australians, which makes up about 42% of the private sector workforce. We know that we're talking mums and dads, we're talking locals, we are talking those who employ local people as well. Right now, there are a hell of a lot of businesses that are struggling and when they struggle, obviously Australia struggles. Last year, 14,500 small businesses collapsed under this government. That's for three main reasons, which is that one, the cost of energy is ridiculous. Businesses can't keep up with the increase of their power bills. Then they're faced with regulatory compliance burdens as well. We are looking at $160 billion annually for businesses to foot that bill for their regulatory compliance. Then of course there's the fact that this government just wants to tax, tax, tax and increase taxes, which is burdensome for these businesses. They can't grow, they can't prosper, they can't create more opportunity by employing more people. I'm ready and rearing to go in my new role to fight on behalf of small businesses in this country that keep our economy ticking along.

PAUL MURRAY:

Well, if you're somebody that's in small business that wants to reach out to the Senator, we'll make sure that you get her on all the socials. Her team or herself will be reading all of that. So if you've got ideas about where they're screwing you and how she can help you, please get in touch with the Senator because this little lady's going to fight, baby.

SENATOR JACINTA NAMPIJINPA PRICE:

Bring it on.

PAUL MURRAY:

Bring it on. What are your thoughts on what's happening in Iran and some of the madness that's been happening in Australia where there are some people that are apparently in a form of mourning right now?

SENATOR JACINTA NAMPIJINPA PRICE:

I think it's utterly despicable that there are those who would wish to mourn the death of an evil dictator who not only supported terrorism overseas but were basically terrorists in their own country and the lives that they have destroyed in Iran. I mean, it is just beyond my comprehension, in fact, that there are those that would wish to mourn this particular individual and this regime. I think this demonstrates that we have to be vigilant in terms of our own security in this country and understand who it is that we have here in our own country that have these views, because these are extremist views as far as I'm concerned. Anyone who belongs to a democracy should cherish this democracy, its freedoms and should be standing beside our democratic allies with regard to this particular issue, the people of Iran. Also, we should be putting the security of the Australian people first, especially after the experience of Bondi and what we have just come out of. I think these are deeply concerning moments that we need to absolutely monitor closely, but such individuals, how do we deal with this situation with those individuals who are holding days of mourning. They need to be called out and these people we need to keep a serious eye on.

PAUL MURRAY:  

Good stuff. Thank you. Given the breaking news of the day, I'm sorry we're so brief, but I look forward to a longer chat in a couple of weeks time. Thank You Senator. Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price fighting on all fronts.

[Ends]