Senator Jacinta Price’s jab at Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney’s private aircraft tour to outback villages while “dripping with Gucci” elicited a sharp reaction from the minister: she does not own anything from the premium brand.
Linda Burney made what appeared to be a few sly digs on the ABC’s 7.30 program on Tuesday night (above) while refusing to directly comment about Jacinta Price’s ‘dripping with Gucci’ sledge
The minister may have a fashionable wardrobe, but according to her office, she does not possess any Gucci items.
Senator Price, a vociferous opponent of the Albanese government’s approach to indigenous affairs, harshly criticized Ms. Burney’s private jet visit of distant areas to confer with them about the approaching vote on establishing an indigenous Voice to Parliament.
Sen. Price ridiculed Ms. Burney for entering Aboriginal villages “dripping with Gucci” to “teach dirt-dwelling people what’s good for them.”
The Australian reported over the weekend that she wore fancy goods such as Prada sunglasses and Edward Meller shoes during her vacation.
Senator Price made the comment about Linda Burney’s ‘ tour of outback communities to sell the Voice referendum, slamming the minister for ‘taking a private jet … dripping with Gucci to tell people in the dirt what’s good for them’
Senator Price made the “Gucci” statement at a National Party news conference on Monday, and Ms. Burney was questioned on ABC how the Voice argument had gotten so “personal” and “so vicious” between the two Aboriginal legislators.
Ms. Burney added, “There will be many unpleasant things said, but I don’t take things personally,” before describing her life in the Riverina hamlet of Whitton, New South Wales, where she was split from her white mother and alienated from her Aboriginal father.
Linda Burney (above in the red Carla Zampatti ensemble she wore for her official parliamentary portrait in 2019) has always been stylish and wears fashionable brands, but ‘doesn’t own any Gucci products’
Linda Burney attempted to make a few covert jabs on ABC’s 7.30 program on Tuesday night (above) while declining to openly comment on Jacinta Price’s “dripping with Gucci” slur.
Senator Price commented on Linda Burney’s trip of outback communities to promote the Voice vote, criticizing the minister for ‘flying a luxury plane… dripping in Gucci to tell people in the dirt what’s best for them.
Linda Burney (shown above in a red Carla Zampatti costume for her 2019 parliamentary portrait) has always been trendy and wears popular labels, but “does not own any Gucci items.”
Linda Burney, 65 (shown above with a Louis Vuitton bag), did not directly react to the sledge question on 7.30, but she did say that she was trained to believe that “kindness is free.”
She told the presenter of 7.30, Sarah Ferguson, that her white Scottish great-aunt and -uncle “taught me to be courteous and to listen to others.”
Linda Burney, 65, (above carrying a Louis Vuitton bag) did not directly respond on 7.30 about the sledge, but said she had been raised to understand that ‘kindness is free’
Ms. Burney stated, in what may have been a jab at Senator Price, that she likewise lived by the adage that “charity is free.”
Ms. Burney stated, “Giving up is not in my DNA, and I know that this referendum and a Voice in Parliament will enhance the quality of life for First Nations People in our nation.”
But Ferguson pressed the minister further, asserting that ‘the crux of Jacinta Price’s thesis… is that metropolitan Aboriginal elites have no relationship to or comprehension of rural areas. What is your response?’
Linda Burney (centre) with Northern Territory senator Malarndirri MCarthy and Marion Scrymgour MP in central Australia on her recent tour of outback communities to explain the Voice referendum
Ms. Burney said, “Look, I don’t want to comment directly,” but went on to remark, in what may have been interpreted as an indirect jab, “I am very glad that we have a Prime Minister who believes in good manners.”
Linda Burney (center) with Senator Malarndirri MCarthy of the Northern Territory and Member of Parliament Marion Scrymgour in central Australia during her recent visit to outback communities to discuss the Voice referendum.
“Having a Voice of the Parliament is about improved results for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people when it comes to health, child removal, education, housing, and jail,” said Linda Burney (seen above in outback Australia during her recent visit).
If we ever consider this about ourselves, then we are not performing our duties effectively.
Linda Burney (above in outback Australia on her recent tour) said ‘having a Voice of the Parliament is about better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people when it comes to health, child removal, education, housing, incarceration’
The Labor minister stated that she was “not shocked” by Nationals leader David Littleproud’s “pre-emptive assault” against the Voice.
Ms. Burney described it as “disappointing… but not the fatal blow as some are speculating.”
She stated, “The Nationals have reached a decision, but it is not unanimous.”
This choice will be made by the Australian people; this referendum belongs to the Australian people, not to politicians.
Linda Burney (above with former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal and Anthony Albanese) at a press conference for the Voice in August
In August, Linda Burney (shown above with former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal and Anthony Albanese) held a press conference for The Voice.
Linda Burney stated that she ‘wasn’t shocked’ by Nationals leader David Littleproud’s ‘pre-emptive attack’ by proclaiming his regional party’s position with Senator Price (above, on Mr Littleproud’s right) and that it was ‘disappointing… but not the fatal blow that some are claiming’
In answer to Sarah Ferguson’s inquiry on Senator Price’s point regarding Aboriginal urban elites and rural areas, Ms. Burney stated, “Also, if we ever consider this about ourselves, we are not doing our jobs correctly.”
Ms. Burney, age 65, is the first Aboriginal woman to serve in the House of Representatives and the first Aboriginal person to be elected to the New South Wales Parliament.
She was appointed Minister for Indigenous Australians by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in June and is the Federal Government’s main ministerial advocate of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament after the PM.
She has referred to the Voice as Australia’s “greatest chance” to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians and to achieve “better results when it comes to health, child removal, education, housing, jail, etc.”
Senator Price criticized Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney (above) for visiting isolated villages while wearing Gucci and telling them “what they need.”
Ms. Burney and Labor senator Pat Dodson, both indigenous MPs and staunch supporters of the Voice, participated in a Parliament House Labor Party Caucus.
Tuesday, after being verbally assaulted by Senator Price, Linda Burney (shown above as a child) reduced the House of Representatives to tears with her own childhood narrative.
Ms. Burney’s compelling life narrative, in which she emphasized her support for a constitutionally protected Voice, elicited cheers and tears from the House of Representatives.
“My parents were Billy and Nina. We did not have much,’ she informed the assembly.
Billy and Nina instilled in me the importance of respect. And that listening is more instructive than speaking.
I did not meet my father till I was 27. It is quite improbable that a person with my background can occupy this position.
But not everyone is as fortunate. Not everyone has the ability to be heard. “Therefore, we need a Voice.”
The Voice: What constitutional amendments would you propose?
There must be an organization known as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice is permitted to make submissions to Parliament and the executive government regarding topics pertaining to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
3. Subject to this Constitution, the Parliament shall have the authority to enact laws governing the composition, functions, powers, and processes of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
Linda Burney, who is of Wiradjuri ethnicity, was the first Aboriginal student to graduate from Mitchell College of Advanced Education with a Diploma in Teaching and an Honorary PhD.
She taught before becoming deputy and then director general of the NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs, entering the NSW Parliament in 2003 and the Federal Parliament in 2016, representing the Barton constituency.
Since entering politics, Ms. Burney has been renowned for her fashionable clothes and fashion sense, particularly the crimson costume she donned for her 2019 parliamentary picture unveiling.
She stated at the time, “There was never any doubt about what I would wear in my official parliamentary photo — a spectacular design by the brilliant Carla Zampatti.”
Red is one of the most powerful colors and my party’s color.
On Monday, in response to Senator Price’s remark that she was “dripping with Gucci,” the Prime Minister and several other MPs expressed their support for her during a party room meeting.
Mr. Albanese informed the audience, “When individuals get so personal, it demonstrates they lack a substantive argument”
A member of parliament referred to Senator Price’s views as “repulsive and ludicrous.”
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