NT CLP Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has declared her intention to run for deputy leader of the Liberal Party as part of a leadership ticket with federal shadow treasurer Angus Taylor, following her surprise announcement last week that she will no longer sit with the Nationals in Federal Parliament.

Ms Price’s deputy leadership ambitions come amid an anticipated closely fought leadership contest for the Liberals, which will be decided in a party room vote on Tuesday. Her decision has received substantial criticism from former colleagues in the National Party, including Leader David Littleproud and Senator Bridget McKenzie.

Sky News reported Sunday that Ms Price was encouraged to pursue the deputy leader role by former prime minister Tony Abbott.

“Today, I announce my candidacy for Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party and my endorsement for Angus Taylor’s candidacy for leader,” Ms Price said in a statement.

“With respect to my decision to change party rooms, these are not matters which I take lightly, and this decision today brings with it a great deal of responsibility.

“There is no question that returning to our roots as a party is critical right now. If we want to inspire and empower Australians across our country, we must return to these roots.”

She added the party must stand for the “forgotten people” and “mainstream Australians”.

“I think of my grandparents, who were by no means the elite, building their first home by hand with hessian bags and washing their clothes in the creek in Warners Bay, NSW,” she said. “But they saw a spark, a vision of a brighter future for generations to come.”

Ms McKenzie criticised both Ms Price and the Liberal Party for her decision, while Nationals Senator Matt Canavan said that Ms Price has done “enormous damage to her reputation” by abandoning the Nationals to join the Liberal Party.

The NT Independent understands many CLP members in the Territory were caught off guard by the defection last week and angered by Ms Price’s unilateral decision to leave the Nationals party room.

Traditionally, Territory CLP senators have sat with the Nationals, while its lower house members traditionally sit with the Liberals.

Mr Taylor will run against Sussan Ley as Liberal leader, with the outcome expected to be close as both figures work behind the scenes to secure the necessary votes ahead of Tuesday’s vote.

Ms Price gained a national profile during the 2023 Voice referendum debate, but also caused controversy during last month’s federal election campaign when photos emerged of her wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat. Ms Price did not disavow the claims that she supported US President Donald Trump’s policies when directly asked about the hat in Darwin, claiming the hat was a Christmas gift and worn as “a joke in our family and that was it”.

NT Labor Opposition Leader Selena Uibo said Senator Price should have disclosed her intention to join the Liberal party room before seeking re-election, adding the move was motivated by ego.

“Jacinta Price should have been up front with Territorians. She cannot represent Territorians in a better way by changing party rooms – she is there for herself,” she told ABC.

“It’s something that Territorians really dislike about politicians – when politicians have their own personal agenda for their own purposes and their own personal ambitions.”

Meanwhile, under-fire NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby stated that her party “endorses” Ms Price’s defection from the Nats to the Libs.

“By her making that decision – a very important one which we fully support – it will mean they [Liberals] will do their rebuild after the election, but she will still be a Country Liberal Party senator,” she told Mix 104.9 on Friday.

CLP president and former member for Solomon Natasha Griggs told ABC the party “accepts” Ms Price’s move to the Liberals and that she will “continue to serve as the CLP’s Senator for the Northern Territory”.