Senator Nampijinpa Price talks to Oly Peterson on 6PR Radio Perth

15 January 2024, 4:07pm AWST

Subjects: Australia Day, Woolworths Boycott

Oly Peterson
You may have heard Daniel Wilde from the Institute of Public Affairs with Gary Adshead earlier today revealed that fewer than one-in-five Australians want to change the date of Australia Day. Nine-in-10 say they're proud to be Australian and that's according to new polling from the IPA examining public attitudes towards our national day. Are you proud to say that you are an Australian? You should be, because as we all know we live in the greatest country in the entire world. Yet every single year - 11 days out as it is now from Australia day, you start to feel a bit guilty about the fact that we celebrate our country on the 26th of January. And it's ramped up again this year because the actions taken last week, a declaration by Woolworths, that it would not be selling Australia Day merchandise. The backlash has been enormous. And it led to calls from opposition leader Peter Dutton to boycott one of Australia's largest supermarket chains. The Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs joins me live on six PR today. Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, good afternoon.

Senator Nampijinpa Price
Good afternoon, Oly. Thanks for having me.

Oly Peterson
Have you had a good break? Have you managed to take a little bit of time off Senator?

Senator Nampijinpa Price
Yes, I've had some time off it's been wonderful, visiting family and other parts of the country and going along to the to the dog beach which is something we don't have in the desert. So yes it's delightful.

Oly Peterson
I'm sure it has been and here we go again and here are the calls, and it was Woolies leading the charge on Australia Day in 2024.

Senator Nampijinpa Price
Yeah, again, you know, It's so disappointing with especially when the corporates think that they can control the lives and or, you know, dictate to the rest of the country how things should be done politically. It's absolutely ridiculous. Yeah, and of course disappointing. I mean, we want to celebrate this wonderful nation because we love it so much and why wouldn't we?

Oly Peterson
It's getting harder though, isn’t it Senator, it's getting harder to say you're proud to be an Australian or you want to actually celebrate or have a barbecue or do what we used to do on the 26th of January.

Senator Nampijinpa Price
Well, I don't know if it's getting harder. I think we just got to maintain who we are and do what it is our right to, celebrate this country, to have a barbecue. I mean, if there are those that don't want to, so be it. Don't do it. That's the wonderful part about living in a democracy you can choose not to, but don't have - or chastise those that actually are proud of this country, and you know, want to see a unified nation. And it's, I mean, I don't find it hard at all. I think I've stayed true to who I am and my beliefs and my love for this country and I certainly encourage others to do so as well.

Oly Peterson
The calls by Woolworths last week to remove Australia Day merchandise have divided opinions again, your leader he made the call, Peter Dutton, for Australians to consider shopping elsewhere, do you back those claims? Should we'd be boycotting Woolies?

Senator Nampijinpa Price
Oh, look, I haven't gone near Woolies since they made that announcement. You know until they come to their senses. I mean, certainly in the lead up to Australia Day I will not be shopping at Woolies and certainly supporting IPGs, and more locals, there's certainly those local dollar shops that have been stocking Australia Day merchandise and making sure that Australians have got what they need. But I’m also letting Australians know that as parliamentarians were obliged to provide the Australian flag should citizens request an Australian flag. So, there's plenty around the country if you're interested, get hold of your local member.

Oly Peterson
If you went into Woolworths last year, there were signs and sections you know saying Happy Diwali for the Hindu festival of lights. So, how's it easy for a corporation to celebrate and commemorate something like Diwali yet it's difficult in Australia to say and celebrate Australia Day that doesn't make too much sense.

Senator Nampijinpa Price
Yeah, you can't pick and choose like that. We are Australia. And yes, we recognize the other cultures that exist within our country, but also those of you know of Indian background, no doubt who celebrate Diwali, I know a lot of Indians back in my community that absolutely celebrate Australia Day, and rightfully so they're proud to call themselves Australian. But you know what, we cannot be the wonderful country we should be able to be if we can't celebrate who we are and have pride in ourselves.

Oly Peterson
The member for Perth, Patrick Gorman, took to social media this afternoon to say that Peter Dutton, his words have led to threats to staff and damage to property, linking the spray painting of a Brisbane Woolworths where they say “Woolies F U” and a flare was let off. Patrick Gorman says “the juvenile call for a boycott is having a real world consequences, words matter, especially when they come from people who claim they are leaders” and that Peter Dutton should be apologizing for his call to boycott. Would you link the actions in Brisbane to those words of your leader Peter Dutton?

Senator Nampijinpa Price
Look, I think the word boycott is not a word to suggest any anything else other than simply that, to boycott. You know, I absolutely condemn, as I'm sure Peter would condemn, actions such as, you know, graffiti and threatening behavior. Absolutely. We don't support those sorts of actions and the coalition outright would not support those sorts of actions, but boycott means boycott.

Oly Peterson
Patrick Gorman says Peter Dutton, his priority is what color the thongs are on the shelves and the priority of the government is to make sure every day Australians are getting a fair deal at the checkouts.

Senator Nampijinpa Price
Well, if that was the case that Australians would be feeling that ease, but no Australian is as far as I know. And they've also suggested that they were going to lower electricity prices for Australians, which was obviously the promise that the Prime Minister made many times at the last federal election, which hasn't eventuated. So they should perhaps, continue to stick to that, because Australians need it that they need that respite from the cost of living here in this country.

Oly Peterson
Do you reckon there’s a message to corporate Australia through the Voice and now with Woolie’s actions in regard to Australia Day, that they should be steering clear of these issues? Because it doesn't seem to be galvanizing perhaps the widespread support they thought that it might.

Senator Nampijinpa Price
Yeah, look, they aren't listening to Australians. They're obviously you know, unelected individuals. So they don't seem to care either. They want to push their agenda, and evidently Australians are getting sick of it. So if they if they continue to push this agenda, what it's going to do is do what exactly what it's going to do, which is going to make Australians not want to shop at places like Woolworths because Australians are sick to death of being told how to think politically. They want to get on with being Australian, with their everyday lives, hopefully with a reduced cost of living and to be able to celebrate this country. And if they haven't learned that lesson now, then they're never going to understand it.

Oly Peterson
Senator, thank you very much for your time. Just before you go, Mark from Freeo has been in touch and reckons he went to see his local federal member, Josh Wilson, and they told them that they wouldn't supply with an Australian flag. You're meant to be supplying your local constituents with the flag, is that was what is meant to happen, Senator?

Senator Nampijinpa Price
It's our responsibility. Absolutely. It is. It is our responsibility to be able to do that. So yeah, maybe he needs to approach his Senator. Maybe one of his senators might be able to do so, but otherwise, that's pretty poor form.

Oly Peterson
All right. We'll follow up. Thank you for your time.

Senator Nampijinpa Price
No worries. Thank you.