Liberal powerbroker Alex Hawke has made a public call for Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to apologise for her comments about Indian immigration, as the saga threatens to engulf the opposition for a second week and exposes broader infighting in the party.

Hawke on Monday denied speaking angrily to Price or her staff, after the senator made a public statement on Sunday that accused him of berating her staff and “inappropriate and cowardly behaviour” when he approached her about the remarks.

But he agreed he told Price that she should say sorry for her comments, and that remained the case.

“I was of the view an apology would fix this,” he told Sky News on Monday morning.

“She disagreed with me, and she has disagreed with me. But I’ve looked at the damage in the community, and there

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