Alex Hawke MP rejects claims of ‘cowardly’ conduct after clash with Jacinta Price

Former immigration minister Alex Hawke has rejected accusations from Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price that he engaged in “cowardly and inappropriate” conduct toward her staff.

Price alleged Hawke berated her team after her ABC appearance last week, where she controversially claimed Labor was using Indian migration to boost electoral chances.

She further alleged Hawke warned her she “may end up like another female member of the Coalition” if she did not comply with his requests.

In a statement, Hawke said he had “accepted” Price’s explanation that her remarks on Indian migration were misinterpreted and “weaponised by Labor.”

He said his call was only to obtain media or video for distribution and denied making threats.

“When we spoke, later that evening [after she appeared on ABC], I advised Jacinta that what she had been told was not correct and I rang both to speak with her and to get some media or video from her for distribution. That was all I rang about,” he told The Guardian.

Hawke, who served as immigration minister under Scott Morrison, has not commented on Price’s claim that he made comparisons with another female Coalition MP.

The controversy follows days of scrutiny over Price’s remarks on Indian migration, which she later conceded were a “misstep.” Opposition deputy leader Sussan Ley said the comments were “wrong” but stopped short of calling for an apology.

Source: The Guardian.