One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has reignited a political firestorm by doubling down on her criticisms of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, this time focusing on his late mother and her decades-long residency in public housing.
In remarks published on September 11, 2026, Hanson reiterated her stance that housing commission properties should not be occupied for extended periods, citing Albanese's mother, Maryanne, who lived in social housing for approximately 65 years. "Housing commission houses should not be there for people to live in them for 30, 40 (years) – and he said his mother lived in the same one she was born in for 65 years," Hanson told The Karl Stefanovic Show earlier this year. "It should be limited time; you have been given a hand up, move it on to the next ones coming through."
Hanson's latest comments, made to The Australian, contrasted Albanese's upbringing with the plight of Australians she claims are forced to live in cars and tents due to high immigration numbers. She added that while she grew up near housing commission properties, the residents "had jobs. And they worked."
These remarks have drawn swift condemnation from government officials. Minister for Energy Chris Bowen described Hanson's comments as an "outrageous attack" on a "woman who's been dead for more than 20 years." He stated that attacking Albanese's mother, who died in 2002, is "off limits" and that politicians' families should be kept out of public discourse. "Some things are off limits. Attacking a woman who's been dead for more than 20 years for living in public housing is off limits," Bowen said. He further suggested Hanson's comments reveal her true opinion of Australians who live in public housing, stating, "She's just told you what she thinks of you, if you've been living in public housing for a long time. She thinks you shouldn't be there."
Prime Minister Albanese has previously spoken openly about his upbringing in public housing in Camperdown, Sydney, with his mother, Maryanne. She lived on a disability pension due to chronic arthritis and relied on social housing for stability. In a 2021 tribute, Albanese described his mother's life as difficult, noting she was "left behind" by governments that cut support and that the threat of losing their council home felt like their "home was being taken from us."
Hanson's comments on Albanese's mother follow recent controversy surrounding her party's criticism of Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie. A satirical cartoon on Hanson's social media account labeled Hastie, a decorated war veteran, as a traitor, which he described as a "massive slur" on veterans. Bowen also criticized Hanson's stance on Hastie, questioning her "bravery" and her party's media exclusion policies.