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Liberal Party leader Susan Ley issued a formal apology to Indian Australians Wednesday during her first visit to Tasmania since becoming opposition leader, addressing hurt caused by recent controversial comments from Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa-Price.
Speaking at a press conference in Hobart, Ley acknowledged the distress caused to migrant communities while defending her handling of the Price situation amid questions about her leadership approach.
"May I take this opportunity as leader of the Liberal Party to apologise to all Indian Australians and indeed others who were hurt and distressed by the comments that were made," Ley said. "Comments that I said at the time should not have been made."
The apology comes after Ley removed Price from frontbench consideration following controversial remarks that sparked criticism from Indian Australian communities. Ley declined to provide specific details about private discussions with Price but confirmed she spoke with the senator Tuesday.
"I don't go into private conversations, but obviously I had a conversation with the senator yesterday," Ley told reporters when pressed about the timing and nature of her discussions with Price.
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Leadership Under Scrutiny
Questions about Ley's leadership handling of the controversy dominated the press conference, with reporters asking whether she should have addressed the situation earlier when it first emerged.
"You said on Sky News yesterday you handled this situation terribly and you let it blow out of control. Should you have spoken to Jacinta Price last week when this first became a problem?" one reporter asked.
Ley deflected detailed questions about her management approach while firmly rejecting suggestions her leadership faced internal threats.
"Absolutely not," she responded when asked if her leadership was under threat due to her handling of the Price situation.
The opposition leader emphasized that Price remains "a valued member of our Liberal Party team" but refused to speculate about future frontbench appointments.
"I won't go into private discussions that I have had with colleagues," Ley said. "That's a standard approach I take so that those discussions can indeed remain private."
Migrant Community Outreach
Ley used the controversy as an opportunity to reaffirm Liberal Party support for Australia's migrant communities, emphasizing their ongoing contributions to the nation.
"May I reaffirm my strong support for all our migrant communities, for the values that they bring to this country, for the contribution they make and for choosing to come to Australia," she said.
The opposition leader stressed that engagement with migrant communities represents ongoing Liberal Party priorities rather than damage control measures.
"This isn't something that starts today. It's something that's ongoing," Ley said. "There are deep connections and deep relationships between members of my team and their local and indeed national Indian and other migrant communities."
Aged Care Victory
Beyond the Price controversy, Ley highlighted a significant opposition achievement in forcing the government to release aged care packages for elderly Australians.
The opposition successfully pressured the government to release 83,000 aged care packages, including 40,000 this year, following parliamentary action Ley described as "a defeat for the government."
"It was a defeat for the government, it wasn't a deal, but most importantly it was a win for elderly Australians who deserve so much better after working hard all their lives and in many cases serving their communities," Ley said.
The aged care initiative stemmed from constituent cases like Betty, an 82-year-old woman who lost her husband while waiting over 12 months for an aged care package.
"It's not right. An 82-year-old lady who lost her husband while waiting for an aged care package. 12 months and longer on a waiting list, we're hearing this from older Australians everywhere," Ley said.
Housing and Construction Challenges
During a visit to Ronald Young Builders, Ley highlighted significant challenges facing Australia's construction industry, particularly apprentice shortages and regulatory burden.
"Since we left government, there are 100,000 fewer apprentices and trainees," Ley said. "And how can we build the houses that we need for the economy, society and the future without having the tradies on the tools?"
The opposition leader criticized government housing targets, arguing current policies fail to address construction industry fundamentals.
"We also know the government is not on track to build 1.2 million homes. They are woefully behind and they need to engage much better with something that is critical for all Australians, particularly young Australians," she said.
Ley emphasized Liberal Party commitment to home ownership opportunities for younger generations.
"I want every young Australian to be able to find their pathway into a home of their own," she said.
Construction Industry Concerns
The building site visit revealed widespread industry concerns about regulatory complexity impacting project delivery.
"The construction code, the red tape, that's massive. It's huge and it's unnecessary," Ley said, echoing concerns raised by local builders and apprentices.
The opposition leader praised small business owners and apprentices for their community contributions while highlighting government policy failures affecting the sector.
"We're here for the people who work hard, who take risks, who give back, who build their communities and their country," she said.
September 11 Commemoration
Ley marked the September 11 anniversary by expressing solidarity with the United States and remembering victims of the terrorist attacks.
"On this anniversary of 9-11, on the 11th of September, can I express my love, sorrow and support for our friends in the USA," she said. "3,000 people lost their lives on that day, and including 10 Australians, an Australian flag was found at ground zero."
The opposition leader also addressed recent violence in the United States, referencing the murder of political activist Charlie Kirk.
"Can I also send solidarity to the US because of what appears to be a political assassination of Charlie Kirk? We stand in solidarity with those who mourn," Ley said.
Tasmania Partnership
During her first visit to Tasmania as Liberal leader, Ley met with Premier Jeremy Rockliff to discuss state-federal cooperation on key issues.
"This is my first visit as leader and I'm going to be a regular visitor just as I was as deputy and I had a catch up with the Premier yesterday," Ley said.
The meeting reaffirmed collaborative relationships between Liberal Party levels of government.
"We reaffirmed the closeness of our working relationship because we want to work hard for Tasmanians, for the things that they deserve, the services, the health services, the education, the aged care services," she said.
Political Positioning
Ley's Tasmanian visit represents broader opposition efforts to demonstrate policy alternatives across multiple sectors, from aged care to housing construction.
"As opposition, which is fight for Australians," she said, describing Liberal Party priorities during the current parliamentary term.
The visit highlighted opposition focus on practical policy achievements while managing internal party controversies that threatened to overshadow substantive policy work.
Ley's handling of the Price situation and subsequent apology reflects ongoing challenges facing opposition parties in managing diverse caucus perspectives while maintaining community relationships essential for electoral success.
The combination of policy announcements, community engagement, and crisis management during the Tasmania visit illustrates the complex demands facing modern political leadership in an increasingly scrutinized media environment.
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