Opposition leader backs Jacinta Price after questions about migration remark

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has thrown his support behind Jacinta Price after she denied agreeing to a remark that Australia needs to stop "flooding" itself with migrants from India, China, Africa and the Middle East.

Price appeared on a one-hour Two Worlds Collide podcast where she nodded and made affirmative noises as host Sam Bamford said the government "can't keep flooding us with hundreds of thousands of Indians, Chinese, Africans, Middle Easterns and Gazans for that matter for the refugee status".

He admitted he had given a lot of information and asked her for her thoughts, to which she said: "Yeah absolutely. I totally agree".

READ MORE: Hanson caught blasting reporter after walk-out

"I mean if people want to come to Australia, they have to adopt our values, full stop," she said.

Price issued a statement in response, saying she had agreed to the fact that the 700-word question contained a lot of information, rather than his views.

"My response was to that remark. It was not intended as an endorsement of every point raised across a lengthy monologue," she said yesterday.

"I was very specific in my remarks that people who come to Australia should adopt Australian values, contribute positively and support social cohesion. I also made clear in the interview that Australian identity should not be defined on ethnic grounds.

"In no way were my remarks in the podcast endorsing discrimination based on race, ethnicity or religion. That is evident in the answer I provided and the broader context of the discussion."

Speaking at a press conference today, Taylor said Price had clarified her position and he had accepted her explanation.

"She made it very clear that she agrees with the party position and my position, which is that we shouldn't discriminate in immigration based on race or ethnicity or religion, but we should, based on values," he said.

"Let's be clear, her position is as mine is, and I absolutely accept her explanation."

READ MORE: Islamophobic TikToker made call for another Cronulla riot

Questioned about whether her appearance on the podcast was appropriate, Taylor said the party has to talk to all Australians whether they agree with them or not.

"It's important that we explain that this is a government that is trashing our standard of living, that is not protecting our way of life," he said.

Multicultural Minister Anne Ally said the remarks had singled out certain groups and were not about migration.

"No Australian should have to deal with the Liberal Party constantly punching down and questioning their existence and contribution to our nation," she said in a social media post.

Taylor used his budget reply speech to announce he would create "one of the biggest cuts to immigration in the history of this country" and link migration rates to housing supply.

Price herself was embroiled in a scandal involving remarks she made about Indian Australians late last year, which led to her being dumped from the shadow ministry by the former opposition leader Sussan Ley.

She claimed Labor was allowing more migrants in from "particular countries over others" to skew votes and singled out the Indian community.

She walked back the statements later and was reinstated to the shadow cabinet after Taylor was elevated to the role of opposition leader.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

• Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
• Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
• Sign up to our breaking newsletter here