Coalition Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price delivers an emotional tribute in Australia’s federal Senate during a condolence motion for five-year-old Warlpiri girl Kumanjayi Little Baby. Her remarks come after Little Baby’s body is found in Alice Springs on 30 April, following a five-day search. Price says her niece’s death was taken in a “senseless”, “selfish” and “horrific” way, and uses the motion to call for action on entrenched problems in remote Aboriginal communities, including town camps and child protection.
The condolence motion is introduced by Indigenous Australians minister Malarndirri McCarthy. Multiple outlets report that Price urges governments to show “courage” and argues that “silence” allows harm to continue. Coverage also notes increasing scrutiny on the Territory’s child protection system, including reference to the Northern Territory chief minister. Several reports describe Price demanding a broader national focus following the alleged abduction and murder of Little Baby near Old Timers or Ilyperenye town camp on the outskirts of Alice Springs. Across the reports, Price frames her speech as a personal obligation to seek justice and to push for systemic change.
