Price returns to Opposition frontbench as small business shadow
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is back on the Opposition frontbench as Shadow Minister for Small Business and Skills and Training. Tim Wilson, who held the small business portfolio, moves to Shadow Treasurer in Angus Taylor's reshuffled cabinet.
Price was demoted from shadow defence industry in September after claiming Labor's immigration policies favoured Indian migrants to boost the government's vote. She refused to apologise but retained Taylor's support.
Speaking to Sky News after the appointment, Price said she brings experience from running her own small business. Before entering federal politics, she was Deputy Mayor of Alice Springs and ran a small business in the Northern Territory.
What this means for small business policy
The portfolio shift puts Price in direct engagement with Australia's 2.5 million small businesses. Wilson held the role briefly and used it to promise an ATO inquiry and pledge changes to instant asset write-off thresholds.
Price now inherits those policy commitments plus skills and training, a portfolio relevant to workforce development and apprenticeships. Her business background is in regional and Indigenous enterprise, not tech or professional services.
The reshuffle follows Taylor's defeat of Sussan Ley in a spill motion last week. Price pitched herself as deputy leader alongside Taylor after the 2025 federal election.
Context worth noting
Price was re-elected as NT Senator in 2025. She previously served as Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians from April 2023 to May 2025 before her demotion to the backbench.
Wilson's promotion to Shadow Treasurer is a significant step up. He has been vocal on small business tax policy and ATO reform during his time in the portfolio.
For sales teams targeting SMB or enterprise government contracts, the Opposition's small business policy direction under Price will matter if the Coalition returns to government. Her regional focus and refusal to back down from controversial positions suggest a different approach than Wilson's tax-focused agenda.