One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has revealed she was compelled to have a conversation with the newly elected Farrer MP, David Farley, after he appeared to deviate from the party's stance on immigration and the display of Indigenous flags.
Immigration Policy Discrepancy
During the lead-up to the May byelection, where Farley secured the first federal lower house seat for One Nation, he expressed that Labor's current immigration intake of 306,000 was "probably not" excessive. This stands in contrast to One Nation's official policy, which caps migration at 130,000 individuals annually.
Flag Policy Conflict
Following his electoral victory, Farley indicated to the Border Mail that he would display three flags in his office: the Australian flag, the Aboriginal flag, and the Torres Strait Islander flag. However, Hanson reiterated that the party's policy mandates flying only the Australian flag.
Speaking at the Church and State summit in Brisbane on Saturday, Hanson addressed the party's candidate vetting process, emphasizing her desire for like-minded individuals within One Nation. She stated, "People will tell you what you want to hear. They really do. Case in point, David Farley, right?" She went on to describe how Farley's comments on immigration and the flag had caused media scrutiny.
Hanson explained, "But as I said to him … our policy [is] one flag, it's the Australian flag, that's it. So I had to have a conversation with him."
Farley's Response
Subsequently, Farley posted on Facebook that his office would fly the Australian flag and that no other flag would be placed above or replace it. When asked by Guardian Australia whether this meant he would not display the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, he responded that there are "plenty of flags for ceremonial events" and that Australians "unite under one flag."
Farley elaborated, "My grandfather fought the first world war under the flag and we buried him under the Australian flag. My father did the same … and when Dad died we buried him under the Australian flag. We are one Australia, we have one flag, we unite under one flag."
Internal Party Unity
Hanson also cautioned the summit attendees about the dangers of internal discord, stating that the party "cannot deal" with infighting and arguments. With a history of departures and defections, she warned, "If I have anyone elected to our party any more and walks off and leaves the party, it will destroy us."
Abortion Policy and Religious Inclusivity
Regarding abortion policy, Guardian Australia sought clarification after One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts indicated he would push for a total ban. Hanson commented that abortions after 20 weeks were "too late."
When asked about welcoming conservative Christians into the party, Hanson affirmed, "of course they'd be welcome," adding, "We're a Christian-based country, for crying out loud." She contrasted this with a hypothetical scenario involving "radical Islamic Muslims," stating, "you wouldn't get in." However, she noted that a Muslim woman, Emma Eros, had previously stood as a candidate for the party in the 2019 NSW election. Eros later criticized Hanson's remarks questioning whether there are "good Muslims," calling them "appalling."
