Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has refused to condemn Jacinta Nampijinpa Price over her ridiculous claim that the government was picking and choosing which migrants it allowed into the country on the basis that they’d vote for the Labor Party.

Yesterday, Price claimed “Labor like to be able to ensure that they’re going to allow those in that would ultimately support their policies, their views, and vote for them as well” in a discussion about Indian migrants … This is Labor. Basically, it’s power at any cost. And we see that occur all over the place in terms of the way they conduct themselves.“

Ley did the rounds on morning TV and, on Sky, was asked about the claims by Senator Price.

Question: Jacinta Price … claimed in an interview that migrants were being brought in from India to boost the Labor vote. She ended up walking that back later on in the day, but has the damage been done here? Could she have isolated an Indian vote the Coalition might have sought?

Sussan Ley:

Look, she’s corrected those comments, Pete, and our migration policy, longstanding, bipartisan, is non-discriminatory. But I want to make this point that we do vote every three years, but every day that I’m Opposition Leader, I’m fighting for every single Australian, no matter where you came from. And our Australian Indian community is amazing, you contribute as Australian Indians so much to our country. We know how hard you work, your family values, and the contribution you make across this country. And as Opposition Leader, I value that incredibly.

Question: Do you expect Labor to use that at the next election as a scare tactic now though, that clip?

Sussan Ley:

Labor will carry on in the way that they do and I will leave that to them. What we’re here for is to fight every single day for every Australian, and as I said, Pete, it doesn’t matter how you vote, we’re here for everyone because we know that the values of the Liberal Party; aspiration, hard work, reward for effort and building this community in this country are something that will resonate in a serious, credible, compelling agenda.