‘She showed fabulous leadership': Senate Opposition leader's fierce defence of Jacinta Price hailed by Bronwyn Bishop

Sky News AU

25-07-2025

Former Speaker of the House Bronwyn Bishop has praised Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Michaelia Cash's fierce defence of Jacinta Nampijunpa Price in the upper house for her stance on Welcome to Country.
The Senate Opposition Leader took aim at Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong in the Senate on Thursday for having 'sought to dismiss" Indigenous Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price's views on the ceremonies.
Ms Price said during the Senate session she was "sick to death" of Indigenous heritage being 'objectified" and used as a "political token" – remarks that followed One Nation Senators turning their backs in protest of an Acknowledgment of Country during the opening of Parliament this week.
In response, Ms Wong then urged Ms Price to heed the words of Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, who is more supportive of Acknowledgement of Country ceremonies.
The move by the Foreign Minister triggered a fiery speech by Ms Cash, which referred to Ms Price's past and upbringing.
Speaking to Sky News host Rowan Dean on Friday, Ms Bishop praised Ms Cash's address and hailed her impassioned delivery.
'And that speech was outstanding because it was passionate, it came right from the heart. And it's about time this whole issue was debated,' Ms Bishop said.
'When you heard what Jacinta had to say and the description that Michaela just gave of what Jacinta has had to put up with all her life ... she is a woman of courage, and Michaelia coming in like that, which Penny Wong tried to stop as I understand it, she just nailed it strongly, and you could hear people all over Australia cheering.'
The former Liberal titan also applauded comments made by Ms Cash since her Senate speech, in which she outlined that all senators - including Ms Price - had the right to their own opinion.
'And then to be railed upon by Senator Wong with a 'Wongism', saying 'look at me I'm so superior to all of you', that it really just got to Michaelia, and she showed fabulous leadership for the person she is,' Ms Bishop said.
The place of Acknowledgment of Country ceremonies in Parliament have come under the microscope this week following One Nation's protest on Tuesday.
Ms Hanson and all three other One Nation senators turned their backs during the ceremony in the upper house, becoming one of the most significant protests of its kind to be staged in the chamber.
The party's leader, joining Ms Bishop and Rowan Dean on Friday further cemented her firm opposition to the acknowledgments being a regular part of on parliamentary proceedings, brushing off suggestions the protest was a 'stunt'
'I don't care what people think about it. People have congratulated me on our stance. We're sick and tired of this Welcome to Country ... People are sick and hard of hearing it and being disenfranchised from our own land,' she told Sky News.