One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has been accused of avoiding media appearances as criticism grows over her remarks concerning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's late mother and the family's long-term residence in public housing.
One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce defended Hanson's absence on Monday, stating he did not believe she was evading reporters. The controversy stems from comments Hanson made on January 25, where she criticized Maryanne Ellery, Albanese's mother, for living in public housing for an extended period.
"Housing commission houses should not be there for people to live in them for 30 or 40 years, and he said his mother lived in the same one she was born in for 65 years," Hanson stated. "Sorry, that is not on, to me. It should be limited time. You have been given a hand up, move it on to the next ones coming through."
The remarks drew condemnation from various political figures, including Trade Minister Don Farrell, who labeled them "appalling" and called for an apology. Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie also commented that Hanson had "crossed a line."
On Sunday, Albanese defended his mother, highlighting her resilience and sacrifice as a single parent who faced significant health challenges. "I'm proud of the community in which I grew up. I'm also proud of my mother," Albanese said, adding that his mother's life was characterized by compassion and strength. He noted her decision in 1963 to keep him as a child out of wedlock. "She was compassionate, not uncaring. She was generous, not mean. And she was kind, not nasty. She was a person of great character."
Joyce suggested that Hanson may not have been aware of the specific circumstances surrounding Albanese's mother's health issues. However, he stood by Hanson's broader point regarding public housing not being a permanent arrangement for most tenants.
"On the formative question, can you have people living in housing commission for the whole of their life? Well, there's a payoff on that, and that's people living under bridges. It's just not possible," Joyce said. "It's a safety net. It can't be your enduring place of abode because otherwise we're not helping the problem."
Joyce elaborated that while permanent residency in public housing is generally not feasible, exceptional circumstances could present a different scenario. He added that he does not believe individuals should be expected to possess full knowledge of all details in such situations.
The political debate occurs as One Nation experiences a surge in poll numbers ahead of the upcoming election. A recent Resolve Political Monitor poll indicated Labor holding 28 percent primary support, with One Nation closely following at 27 percent, and the Coalition at 24 percent.