Anthony Albanese has criticised Pauline Hanson's proposal to slash migration, warning it could worsen skilled worker shortages, as both Labor and the Coalition push back against One Nation's policy agenda. Speaking after Hanson's National Press Club address, the prime minister accused the Queensland senator of misrepresenting herself to voters.
Hanson's Migration Cuts Under Fire
Hanson called for further reductions in overseas migration levels during her speech on Wednesday, claiming multiculturalism had failed and blaming housing shortages and infrastructure pressures on overseas arrivals. Albanese responded on Sunday, telling Sky News that One Nation pretends to stand for workers while accepting donations from billionaires like Gina Rinehart, who gifted Hanson a private plane worth over $1.5 million.
“The fact is that One Nation pretends that they stand for workers whilst getting planes given to them by Australia's richest person,” Albanese said. “They want it to be easier to sack people, they oppose increases in the minimum wage and they oppose our support for child care. They've opposed our support and expansion and strengthening of Medicare.”
Coalition Urges Unity Amid One Nation Surge
With One Nation overtaking Labor and the Coalition in polls, opposition leader Angus Taylor urged members not to defect, arguing that One Nation wants to “blow this country up.” Speaking on Sky News on Sunday, Taylor said the answer is not to destroy the system but to have a credible plan and team, which only the Liberal and National parties can offer.
Federal Liberal president Tony Abbott has been calling rank-and-file members to discourage defections. Taylor acknowledged frustrations but emphasised retaining and energising membership.
Net Migration Drops, but Criticism Persists
Net overseas migration added 301,000 people to Australia's population last year, the lowest increase since mid-2022, yet still above pre-pandemic rates. This has spurred renewed criticism from the Coalition and One Nation, despite the decline.
Albanese noted that One Nation and the Coalition opposed Labor's tighter restrictions on overseas student enrolments and are campaigning against tax reform and cost-of-living measures. “One Nation will continue to, along with the other rightwing parties, oppose all of the measures that have made a difference to people,” he said.
Foreign Aid and Multiculturalism Disputes
Shadow foreign affairs minister Ted O'Brien criticised Hanson's call to withhold foreign aid from Pacific countries receiving Chinese financial assistance, calling it misguided. “The idea that you effectively hold a gun to the head of our Pacific neighbours, that's not what a friend does,” O'Brien told ABC TV's Insiders.
Last week, Papua New Guinea's foreign minister Justin Tkatchenko condemned Hanson's linking of aid to corruption in PNG as “defaming and unnecessary.” O'Brien also rejected Hanson's stance on multiculturalism, saying, “The last thing we should be doing is trying to force Australians to adopt the same customs.” He called for the Coalition to preference One Nation ahead of the Greens at the next election.
Comment was sought from One Nation.
