Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price would play a leading role in a future Coalition government, Peter Dutton has confirmed.
Speaking to reporters in the NT on Saturday, Mr Dutton said Senator Nampijinpa Price - one of the Coalition's most popular politicians and a leading figure of the 'No' campaign during the Voice referendum - would be part of the Expenditure Review Committee (ERC).
One of the most powerful committees in government, the ERC usually comprises the PM, finance minister and treasurer, as well as several senior cabinet ministers.
Asked if a Coalition government would look to reduce the size of the frontbench in line with their commitment to reducing government waste, including the portfolio of Indigenous Australians, Mr Dutton told reporters: "Jacinta will be part of the Expenditure Review Committee and I think that's absolutely essential."
"...and Indigenous affairs, no, not on the chopping block," he added.
Conservative commentators have been calling for Senator Nampijinpa Price to be placed front and centre during a campaign the Coalition have started slowly in.
New polling shows Labor ahead in the two-party preferred, and the appearance of the NT Senator, who was increasingly effective in her communication during the referendum, is seen as vital by many of those on the right.
In January, the Warlpiri/Celtic woman was given the responsibility of a new platform - "government efficiency" - which has been touted as a solution to help crack down on "wasteful spending". Mr Dutton said this includes the $450 million spent on the "divisive Voice referendum".
On Saturday, the Coalition announced $10 million to support CareFlight in acquiring an additional King Air B250 aircraft to better service the Top End.
Despite arguing "only" a Coalition government would deliver "quality healthcare to all Australians, wherever they live across the nation," the announcement mirrored that of Labor's a day earlier.
Senator Nampijinpa Price said 90 per cent of CareFlight's patients in the NT last year were from Indigenous communities.
"We know that disadvantage gets worse the more remote people are, therefore, this funding commitment will deliver practical solutions where the need is greatest," she said.
Both major parties have been targeting the NT's two seats - Solomon and Lingiari.
The latter is held by Labor's Marion Scrymgour on a razor-thin margin, and the Coalition view it as winnable, especially in the wake of the CLP's electoral victory in last year's Territory election.
Whilst the Coalition has repeated its policies towards Indigenous affairs of a royal commission into sexual abuse in Indigenous communities, the reintroduction of the highly criticised cashless debit card (CDP) and an audit of Indigenous organisations, actual details on policies and funding announcements have remained limited.
Senator Nampijinpa Price told NITV Radio last week they will have "more policies to announce, and certainly with some of my shadow cabinet colleagues across education and health".
On an audit, she added: "It's one thing for governments to determine where funds are allocated, it's another thing for organisations that are in receipt of those funds to actually provide the outcomes that are necessary."
