Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has criticised One Nation for opposing measures that benefit working people, as the party's influence grows in opinion polls. Speaking to Sky News, Albanese accused One Nation of misrepresenting itself as a workers' party while accepting donations from billionaires like Gina Rinehart.
Albanese highlighted One Nation's opposition to minimum wage increases, childcare support, Medicare expansion, and free TAFE courses. He argued that the party's call to slash migration would worsen skilled worker shortages, as Australia needs both migrants and upskilled locals to fill jobs.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, in a National Press Club speech, called for further cuts to overseas migration, blaming housing shortages and infrastructure pressures on arrivals. She claimed multiculturalism had failed. Hanson's party has overtaken Labor and the Coalition in some polls, prompting tougher scrutiny of its policies.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor urged Liberal members not to defect to One Nation, saying the party wants to 'blow this country up'. Liberal President Tony Abbott has been contacting rank-and-file members to retain them. Taylor stressed the need for a credible plan and team from the Coalition.
Shadow Foreign Minister Ted O'Brien criticised Hanson's proposal to withhold aid from Pacific countries receiving Chinese assistance, calling it a 'gun to the head' approach that undermines trust. Papua New Guinea's foreign minister had previously denounced Hanson's comments linking aid to corruption as 'defaming'.
