Senator Nampijinpa Price has now formally cancelled her appearance at the forthcoming “Put Australia First” rally. She was meant to be the headline speaker for that first event. Event organizers received notice from her office that the senator would not be coming, citing “personal commitments.” The rally, organized by the group Put Australia First, aims to promote Australian values, immigration reform, freedom of speech, and affordable power.
Price based his decision as public interest in the rally grew. The lounge – and the whole event, really – will feature a number of other high-profile speakers such as British far-right activist Tommy Robinson, Stuart Bonds and Nick Patterson. Robinson’s record as a member of a violent, anti-migrant fascist political party has created significant controversy. Unfortunately, his reputation for promoting hateful and dangerous rhetoric precedes him.
Background of the Rally
The “Put Australia First” rally has ignited the debate. It addresses challenges that truly struck a chord with all echelons of the Australian community. The organization has relentlessly pushed to restore conservative values in Australia. They put pressure on Democrats to prioritize comprehensive immigration reform and bold economic policies aimed at bringing down the cost of living.
Communications manager and anti-lockdown protester Monica Smit said she was delighted that Price had been lined up as the event’s keynote speaker. She stated, “Our headline speaker … is one of the MOST prominent voices advocating for common sense and the preservation of Australia’s culture and way of life.” Smit added, “We are completely humbled that she has agreed to speak,” underscoring the significance of Price’s participation to the rally organizers.
Price’s withdrawal would really open the dynamics of the event. She has been riding a wave of popularity with the Liberal rank-and-file by siding with conservatives and Conservative Party leadership aspirants Angus Taylor and Andrew Hastie. The senator inspired her supporters to get enough numbers to participate in a march in Sydney today, November 29. In her now-deleted Facebook post, she argued that we all need to come together to far outnumber the voices of small, everyday Australians seeking genuine change.
Implications for the Liberal Party
Price’s exit from the rally may be seen as a relief for Liberal leader Sussan Ley, especially given the party’s ongoing struggles with internal divisions regarding climate policy and its broader direction. As tensions rise within the party, Price’s decision could serve to alleviate some pressure arising from her association with controversial figures like Robinson.
Just a couple weeks ago, an audacious Facebook post hinted at Price’s attendance at the rally. It flashed a shadowy outline and prompted folks, “How far can you guess?” This led to much speculation about what she would do at the event. Her withdrawal highlights the perils that politicians must endure when making public appearances with those who have recently gained polarizing reputations.
Concerns Surrounding Rally Speakers
As the participation of notorious Islamophobe Tommy Robinson by these Europacists indicates, there is a real possibility for inflammatory, anti-immigrant rhetoric to dominate this rally. Mike Burgess, an Australian security official, commented on such gatherings, stating, “Even if the organisation does not engage in terrorism, I remain deeply concerned by its hateful, divisive rhetoric and increasingly violent propaganda.” His warning speaks to anxieties that inflammatory speech can lead to more general acts of spontaneous violence, especially in reaction to imagined slights or insults.
