Liberal MP Andrew Hastie and One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce showcased a public reconciliation on Monday night at ABC's National Migration Forum, following a week of political tension. The pair, who had been at odds over comments made by One Nation, appeared amicable while discussing Australia's migration system.
Last week, Hastie accused One Nation leader Pauline Hanson of branding him a "traitor" in a cartoon posted to her social media account. Hastie had stated that calling him a traitor to his country was a serious issue and demanded the party address it.
During the forum, host David Speers noted the apparent conflict, stating, "You two have been at war all week." Hastie responded that Joyce had apologized for the incident and that he had accepted the apology, stating, "We're on good terms." Joyce, humorously adding to the reconciliation, declared, "Yeah, we're right. We're back in the bed together," though Hastie quickly demurred from the remark.
The discussion then turned to migration policy. Hastie reiterated his stance on reducing net overseas migration, stating that hard decisions would be necessary. He also contrasted his party's commitment to policy with that of One Nation.
Small Business Minister Anne Aly, also present, addressed the complexities of migration policy, particularly regarding temporary skilled workers bringing family members. She suggested that decisions should consider the duration of stay and whether visa holders are in regional or metropolitan areas.
The forum also featured Ethiopian lawyer Nyadol Nyuon, who shared her perspective as a migrant. Nyuon challenged the notion of Australia needing a "monoculture" and argued that the country has historically been diverse. She also expressed her intention to retain her cultural identity rather than assimilate, encouraging a more direct conversation about social cohesion.
"Australia's never been monocultural before," Nyuon stated, referencing Indigenous Australians and post-World War II immigration. She questioned the idea of a threatened "white culture," suggesting it was more accurate to speak of distinct cultures like Italian or French. Nyuon also raised concerns about the framing of migration debates, noting that principles of freedom of religion and speech should apply equally to all groups.