Pauline Hanson, leader of Australia's One Nation party, has clarified her party's migration policy following public confusion generated by one of her Members of Parliament. On Sunday, One Nation MP David Farley suggested the party's stance on migration was similar to that of the Labor government. However, Hanson asserted on Thursday that the party's proposed annual cap of 130,000 applies exclusively to permanent migrants who could eventually become citizens, excluding temporary visa holders.
"Those people we're going to give permanent residency and who can move on to citizenship, that's at 130,000," Hanson stated at the Daily Telegraph's Bush Summit in Dubbo, alongside Nationals Leader Matt Canavan. She emphasized that temporary visa holders, including those under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, would not be counted towards this figure.
"On top of that, you can have your PALM workers and other visa holders in the country," Hanson said, adding that Australia currently has too many visa holders. She criticized Labor's approach, arguing that an influx of temporary migrants is straining housing and infrastructure. "We've got three million visa holders in Australia. We're full," she declared. Hanson also called for a reduction in foreign student numbers and their accompanying family members.
When asked if Farley's comments were incorrect, Hanson attributed them to a mix-up between permanent and temporary visas. "David Farley got confused about the visa holders," she said. "As I've always said, PALM workers are visa holders who can come into the country. They're usually provided accommodation by the farms that employ them."
Hanson also voiced criticism of Australia's international education sector, suggesting universities have become overly reliant on foreign students. She additionally broadened her critique to encompass the Albanese government's broader policies, accusing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of misunderstanding regional concerns regarding renewable energy projects. Hanson reiterated her support for nuclear power, arguing that intermittent renewable energy sources lead to increased electricity prices and negatively impact households and businesses.
Meanwhile, Nationals Leader Matt Canavan declined to commit to a specific migration target but echoed the sentiment that migration numbers should be managed in relation to housing construction. "Net overseas migration should be below the number of homes we build and well below for at least the next few years, given the massive surge we've seen under this government," Canavan remarked. He suggested that One Nation's internal confusion highlighted the challenges of setting premature migration numbers. Canavan indicated that the Coalition would present a detailed migration policy prior to the next election, considering factors such as housing supply, economic conditions, and the federal budget. He also linked migration policy to Australia's economic outlook, citing concerns over the nation's debt exceeding $1 trillion.