Taylor Finally Offers Price Her Dream Portfolio: “So, Uh, Indigenous Affairs, Again?”

ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact

After publicly demanding what she described as a "plum" frontbench role and declaring “I’m back, baby”, Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has reportedly been handed exactly the sort of high-profile portfolio that guarantees daily headlines, rolling controversy and career cul-de-sac.

According to colleagues present at this week’s reshuffle discussions, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor eventually slid a folder across the table and offered what insiders are calling a dream brief.

“So, uh… Indigenous Affairs, again?” Taylor is understood to have said.

Price has made no secret of her expectation of senior responsibility. She has warned colleagues not to sideline her again, refused to apologise for remarks that cost her a shadow portfolio, and positioned herself as central to the Coalition's rebuild.

It would not be her first time holding the brief. Price was appointed Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians in April 2023 under Peter Dutton, a move that drew concern from "leftoid city sooks."

In early 2025, she was elevated to the newly created Government Efficiency portfolio, a Canberra imitation of the United States' Department of Government Efficiency. That experiment did not survive Sussan Ley's leadership. The portfolio was abolished, Price was shifted back to Indigenous Affairs, then moved to Defence Industry and Personnel.

By September 2025 she was out of the shadow ministry entirely after controversial comments about Indian-Australians and voting patterns.

“If you’re going to demand a plum portfolio, you get one,” one Liberal senator said.

“Preferably one with relentless media scrutiny, policy landmines and a career tightrope that snaps with one false step.”

Indigenous Affairs is among the most scrutinised briefs in federal politics, carrying national attention, strong advocacy pressure and daily opportunities for media pile-ons.

"She doesn’t hide," a colleague said.

"And this portfolio does not allow hiding. Angus knows this."

More to come.