Alex Hawke Urges Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to Apologise Over Indian Migrant Remarks

Senior Liberal frontbencher Alex Hawke has called on Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to apologise to Indian Australians, rejecting her claims that he engaged in "cowardly and inappropriate behaviour."

Mr Hawke, the opposition's manager of business, confirmed he contacted Senator Nampijinpa Price's office last week after she suggested that Labor was increasing Indian migration because the community votes for the party.

He said he later spoke directly with the Northern Territory senator and urged her to apologise to avoid further fallout.

"I had the guts to ring her and say, 'I think you've got a problem and I think you should apologise to the community,'" Mr Hawke told Sky News. "I've heard from her and I believe she didn't mean to be racist, but it came across that way."

The timing of Senator Nampijinpa Price's remarks - coming days after anti-immigration rallies, some targeting Indian Australians - was especially damaging, Mr Hawke added.

While the senator has clarified she did not intend to disparage the community, she has resisted repeated calls from colleagues to say sorry. Instead, she escalated tensions with a social media post accusing Mr Hawke of berating her staff and mistreating women in the party.

Mr Hawke rejected that allegation, insisting his call with her staffer lasted only "a minute or two" and was aimed at helping her manage the controversy. "I can't understand how this is a gendered issue," he said.

The dispute has created a political headache for Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, who has been meeting with Indian Australian community leaders and touring Little India in Melbourne in a bid to repair relations. While describing the comments as "wrong," Ms Ley has stopped short of issuing an apology on behalf of the party.

Behind the scenes, many Liberals fear the remarks have undone years of work building ties with one of Australia's largest and fastest-growing migrant communities.