Australian Politics

I think you need to stop thinking that being a first nations person means she can't be right wing, or a scheming opportunist, or a hypocrite. First nations are still human, they can be sellout shitbags just like any other person.

I just want to say good on you for applying some critical thinking, doing some research, and then testing your conclusions by inviting others opinions.

I so wish that most people could even do one of these steps instead of just parroting whatever they had last heard.

I’m not particularly well informed as to the plight of first nations peoples, but my understanding was that their interests are better aligned with progressive parties with social policies.

This is problematic thinking to begin with, we should try to avoid making assumptions about people from minority groups. It's sort of ironic in a way, because Price's latest controversy is related to exactly this - she accused Labor of bringing in large numbers of Indian migrants because "Indians vote Labor". But anyway, you were obviously engaging in good faith so I'm not going to criticise you too harshly. It's a trap we can all fall into if we're not careful.

I think your understanding of Price's position in Australian politics is mostly accurate. She has been elevated because, among other things (she is a strong and confident communicator, for example), her political support for right wing ideology as an Indigenous woman adds weight to the Coalition's more controversial positions regarding Indigenous affairs. She is far from the only Indigenous person to hold those views, but I think her age and gender are a big part of her appeal because they have some potential to be used as wedges (many of her Indigenous political opponents are older and/or men). Her mother was also a CLP member and I believe was a big influence on her, as is Tony Abbott who is one of her biggest supporters (Indigenous affairs are a lifelong passion for Abbott, likely due to his strong Catholic beliefs).

Australian Story did an episode on her not long ago, it is probably worth a watch if you are trying to understand her background and relevance in today's political landscape.

She is an opportunist. She does not care about the advancement of aboriginal well-being.

She’s an opportunist. She takes whatever stance she needs to if she thinks it’ll improve her station. She relies heavily on populism to do this, which is why she sounds so much like a certain orange American and does things like calling into question the authenticity of elections. She abandoned the Nats and jumped ship to the Libs for the same opportunistic reasons.

Why would you expect Aboriginal people to all vote as a bloc? Nobody does that, regardless of heritage. Expecting them all to vote left wing because you think it would progress their interests is in the same line as someone from the right expecting all white people to vote for them to preserve perceived privileges.

We don't even have have such a clear political split in groups which would gain direct benefit from progressive parties such as welfare recipients. You'd think that would make for a clear choice between the party that wants to either keep or increase your source of money and the party that wants to cut it, but there's a lot who still vote conservative either because they believe something else in that side of politics is more important or they simply don't care enough to think through the ramifications.

The Minefield, ABC Listen

I've been listening to this weeks Minefield and considering their topic as an emotional driver for different actors here and internationally.

Price's actions in relation to ego and "saving face" from those embarrassments, and/or the need to dominate opponents, perceived and real, in reaction to their internal view of themselves and their identified 'side'.

I think its helping me, you might find their discussion insightful as well.