Jacinta Price Refuses to Back Down on Immigration

Despite intense pushback from the media — and even from within her own political party — Senator Jacinta Price has refused to back down after raising concerns about Australia’s extremely high rate of immigration.

As discussed in our earlier profile, Senator Price expressed her concerns about mass immigration during an interview with the ABC in September. In addition to highlighting the growing strain on infrastructure, Senator Price referenced polling that suggested certain immigrant groups tended to vote in particular ways. She later clarified those comments, describing them as “clumsy,” but refused to retract her broader concerns about the scale of immigration.

In a recent opinion piece for The Australian , Senator Price doubled down on her position, arguing that immigration levels are too high and calling on the Liberal Party to adopt a firm stance on both mass immigration and other pressing national issues. She emphasised that simply ignoring these issues would only cause the public to become further disillusioned with politics.

Senator Price has emphasised that her main concerns around immigration centre on social cohesion and the infrastructure pressures caused by record levels of population growth. On social cohesion, Senator Price has pointed out that at many of the pro-Palestine protests held around the country since October 7, 2023, a number of demonstrators have expressed support — both implicitly and explicitly — for terrorism and for the destruction of the State of Israel. Such sentiments, she argues, are fundamentally incompatible with liberal democracy.

Senator Price has also warned that Australia lacks the infrastructure necessary to sustain the level of immigration currently being pursued by the Albanese Government.

Contrary to what many of her critics claim, expressing concern about high immigration levels is not a “far-right” or fringe position. A Lowy Institute poll released this month asked Australians how they felt about current immigration levels, and 53% of respondents said immigration levels were “too high,” representing a five-point increase since the last time the Lowy Institute asked the question.

Other surveys have produced similar findings. The Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) commissioned a poll through the research firm Dynata, in which 71% of respondents agreed with the statement:

“Australia should temporarily pause its intake of new immigrants until more economic and social infrastructure — such as schools, roads, hospitals, and housing — are built.”

In what many commentators regarded as a surprising result, 74% of respondents aged 18 to 24 agreed with that statement, up from just 50% in 2023. This represents a clear indication that the national mood on the issue is shifting.

This shift among young people aligns with Senator Price’s own observations. She has noted that many younger Australians have approached her directly to express frustration at being locked out of the housing market due to unprecedented demand.

While Senator Price remains one of the most high-profile politicians in Australia, the Liberal Party appears to be struggling under Sussan Ley’s leadership, as her personal approval ratings continue to fall in national polling, and many continue to criticise the Party for its uncertain direction.

There is also evidence to suggest that Price’s principled and direct approach resonates far more strongly with the public than Ley’s vague and cautious leadership style. Senator Price currently boasts more than 320,000 followers on Facebook, 65,000 on X, and 43,000 on Instagram. In comparison, Sussan Ley has 33,000 Facebook followers, 32,700 on X, and 14,400 on Instagram.

The differences in engagement are even more striking. Senator Price’s Facebook posts regularly attract over 1,000 reactions and hundreds of comments — the vast majority of them positive. By contrast, Sussan Ley’s posts often struggle to reach 300 reactions, many of which are negative or mocking. Many comments on Ley’s posts criticise her decision to sideline Senator Price and have demanded clearer positions from the Liberal Party on issues such as net zero and immigration.

While it would be simplistic to attribute Senator Price’s popularity solely to her immigration stance, it’s clear that taking a firm, unapologetic position has not damaged her public standing.

If this episode has proven anything, it’s that standing by one’s principles can be difficult — especially in the short term — but it ultimately builds credibility and trust.

If one were taking bets, the smart money would be on Senator Jacinta Price’s political future looking very bright indeed.