One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has revealed she was compelled to address policy discrepancies with the newly elected Farrer MP, David Farley, following his apparent deviation from the party's stance on immigration and the display of Indigenous flags.
Farley, who secured the federal lower house seat for One Nation in May's byelection, had previously indicated that Labor's current immigration intake of 306,000 was "probably not" excessive. This contradicts One Nation's official policy of capping migration at 130,000 annually.
Additionally, Farley had expressed intentions to display three flags in his office: the Australian, Aboriginal, and Torres Strait Islander flags. However, Hanson reiterated that party policy mandates only the Australian flag be flown.
Speaking at the Church and State summit in Brisbane, Hanson emphasized the importance of vetting candidates to ensure alignment with party values. She cited Farley as an example where initial statements did not match party policy, necessitating a direct conversation.
Following these discussions, Farley posted on Facebook that his office would fly solely the Australian flag, asserting that Australians should "unite under one flag." He further clarified that while other flags may be used for ceremonial events, the Australian flag remains supreme.
Hanson also addressed internal party cohesion, warning that defections could be detrimental. One Nation has experienced numerous departures, and Hanson stressed the need to avoid factions that characterize major parties.
Regarding abortion policy, Hanson stated that abortions after 20 weeks are "too late," following Senator Malcolm Roberts' push for a total ban. She also welcomed conservative Christians into the party, while expressing reservations about radical Islamic Muslims, though she acknowledged a Muslim woman had previously stood as a candidate for One Nation.
Emma Eros, who ran for the party in the 2019 NSW election, criticized Hanson's comments about Muslims, calling them "appalling" but not surprising.
