Hanson steps in to explain One Nation migration targets
Duncan Murray and Tess Ikonomou |
One Nation would slash migration to less than half the current government’s levels, leader Pauline Hanson says.
It comes after a One Nation MP said the party’s policy would include an extra 100,000 people annually, and was not “too different” to what would occur under Labor or the coalition.
Farrer MP David Farley, who clinched Sussan Ley’s old seat from the coalition at a by-election, said his party had decided to separate a “true NOM”, or net overseas migration figure, from certain other categories of migrants.
He said One Nation’s policy of getting net overseas migration down to 130,000, from the budget forecast of 225,000 in the following four years, excluded people brought in under a Pacific scheme, aged-care nurses and other in-demand skilled workers.
That group would amount to an additional 100,000 arrivals, and an increase of 5000 people from the budget forecast, leaving it closer to targets set by Labor and the coalition.
“What we’re doing is we’re focusing on the NOM in its true form, and then we’ve got these programs that have been available now for over a decade that drive our economy,” Mr Farley told ABC’s Insiders on Sunday.
“The raw number is not too different, but the reality is, where do we need them?
“We don’t need them in the great urban metroplex – we need them out to be productive, working in agriculture, engineering, mining.”
Senator Hanson took to social media to correct the record, saying One Nation’s policy is to cut net overseas migration to 130,000.
Short-term seasonal agricultural workers who do not meet the residency test were not counted in net overseas migration, she said
“They come for limited periods, often live on farms or regional properties while they work, and return home,” Senator Hanson said.
Reductions in migration numbers under One Nation would come from allowing in fewer international students and dependants and introducing a more targeted skilled migration program.
“One Nation’s target is less than half Labor’s current level,” ,” Senator Hanson said.
“Labor opened the floodgates to mass migration and has repeatedly blown its own migration forecasts since coming to government.
“Australians are living with the consequences. Homes are less affordable, emergency departments are overwhelmed, roads are more congested and essential services are stretched beyond capacity.”
Cabinet minister Chris Bowen said net overseas migration could not just be redefined.
“My overwhelming conclusion was (David Farley is) pretty comfortable with what the government’s doing,” he told reporters.
“I’m not sure what campaign One Nation’s going to run on migration if they’re effectively backing in what the Albanese government is doing.”
Opposition immigration spokesman Jonno Duniam said voters were owed a clear explanation of what One Nation’s immigration policy actually was.
“These are not semantic distinctions. They have real consequences for housing, infrastructure, essential services, wages, jobs and the economy,” he said.
“For a party that has spent years telling Australians it has all the answers on immigration, One Nation is having extraordinary difficulty answering the most basic question of all: how many migrants would actually come to Australia under its policy.”
Opinion polls have shown voters trust One Nation to manage migration better than the two major parties.
AAP