One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce has defended party leader Pauline Hanson's recent comments regarding Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's late mother and her decades-long residency in public housing. Joyce stated that he stands by Hanson's remarks and questioned the necessity of long-term public housing occupancy, a stance that led to a clash with Sunrise host Nat Barr.
Hanson's comments, which resurfaced recently, questioned why Albanese's mother, Maryanne, remained in public housing for 65 years. Hanson suggested that public housing should have a time limit, serving as a safety net rather than a permanent residence. "Housing commission houses should not be there for people to live in them for 30, 40 years," Hanson stated in January. "It should be limited time; you have been given a hand up, move it on to the next ones coming through."
During an interview on Sunrise on Monday, Barr repeatedly pressed Joyce on whether Hanson should issue an apology. Joyce initially deflected, stating he didn't know the Prime Minister's mother but acknowledged the circumstances of her life. He then pivoted to criticize Albanese's property ownership, noting that the Prime Minister owns multiple houses and is planning to purchase a home on the Central Coast for approximately $4.5 million. "The whole log cabin story of living in a housing commission home that the Prime Minister rolls out over and over again for a person who owns multiple houses. And good luck to him, and God bless him," Joyce said.
When asked a third time if Hanson should apologize, Joyce responded, "That's really a question for Pauline to answer. I'm not going to start answering questions on anybody else in the parliament." He reiterated his view on public housing, emphasizing that it should not be a perpetual residence. "I'm going on what was said, which is whether you should be able to live in public housing for 65 years," he added.
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek also appeared on the program, defending Albanese's mother. She described Maryanne as a "gorgeous woman" who experienced significant health issues throughout her life, during which Prime Minister Albanese often cared for her. Plibersek contrasted this with Joyce's background, noting his attendance at a boarding school. "Barnaby, when you were a kid, you were at a beautiful boarding school, getting three meals a day, being beautifully looked after," Plibersek stated. "He (Albanese) was the carer in his family."