Liberal Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has responded to teal MP Allegra Spender, who described anti-migration rallies as ‘neo-Nazi organised,’ claiming that Spender is unfairly defaming ordinary Australians who have concerns about Labor’s immigration policies.

This conflict comes after Liberal MP Andrew Hastie warned that Australians are beginning to feel like ‘strangers in their own home’ due to the unprecedented levels of net overseas migration.

‘Australians are locked out of the housing market. Many are house poor, spending most of their income on rent or mortgages,’ he said.

‘Labor talk about a housing supply crisis, but this is a housing demand crisis, driven by unsustainable immigration. It’s that simple.’  

Hastie’s remarks, which also connected migration to declining birth rates, provoked an angry reaction from Spender, who likened his rhetoric to Enoch Powell’s infamous ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech in Britain.

Spender stated, ‘We’ve already seen neo-Nazi organised anti-immigration rallies, and now unsettling echoes of past racial division have entered mainstream politics.’

She added that attending citizenship ceremonies with new Australians from varied countries makes her feel prouder of Australia’s multiculturalism, not less. ‘We are a nation that exemplifies how people from diverse backgrounds can coexist peacefully,’ she said.

But Price leapt to her colleague’s defence in a fiery statement on Thursday. 

In response, Ms. Price remarked, ‘I completely disagree with Allegra Spender’s statement today. However, I appreciate her input in the migration discussion,’ on Thursday.

‘Concerns about mass migration are not from a fringe movement. They are grassroots issues driven by Canberra’s failures. This is a national conversation our country must have.’

Price argued Spender was out of touch with everyday Australians, claiming her ‘affluent electorate’ in Sydney’s elite eastern suburbs shielded her from the reality of cost-of-living pain.

‘Many Australians are struggling under the cost of living, locked out of home ownership, and burdened by the pressures of mass migration,’ she said.

The Senator defended the March for Australia rallies held on August 31, saying thousands of people had marched ‘peacefully’ to express legitimate concerns about housing, infrastructure and social cohesion.

‘There were some neo-Nazis involved in the marches who were rightly booed by others who marched – and condemned by the rest,’ she said. 

‘But Ms Spender characterised these marches as neo-Nazi organised anti-immigration rallies.

‘Their objective is clear: to impugn the motives of those who marched and to delegitimise the reasonable concerns that millions of Australians have.’

Price drew a sharp line between patriotic Australians and what she described as extremist elements.

‘Since the sordid scenes on the steps of the Sydney Opera House on 9 October 2023, many Australians do not recognise their fellow countrymen – those who firebomb synagogues, chant genocidal slogans, wave flags of terrorist organisations, or burn our national flag,’ she said.

‘This nation has generously welcomed millions of migrants to our shores – the vast majority hard-working people who have embraced our values. But we must wake up to the fact there are people who do not want to change for Australia, but want Australia to change for them. And Australians have had enough.’

Price vowed to continue pushing for migration reform, insisting Spender and other critics, including Labor MPs and the Greens, were trying to shut down debate with accusations of racism.

‘Labor, the Greens and the Teals can shout racism and bark insults all they want. But Australians can see their country changing for the worse,’ she said.

‘I’m sure statements like Allegra Spender’s will only see more Australians peacefully take to the streets to express their pride in our country and to send a message to Canberra that they will not be silenced.’