One Nation pursuing migration rate 'not too different' to Labor

One Nation's migration policy in disarray as MP's comments contradict leader

A public split within One Nation over its migration policy has erupted after the party's newly elected Farrer MP, David Farley, said the party's effective migration intake would be "not too different" to the Labor government's target. The comments, made on ABC's Insiders program on Sunday, drew a swift public correction from party leader Pauline Hanson, who insisted the party's policy remained a net overseas migration target of 130,000—less than half of Labor's current level.

Farley, who won the Farrer by-election earlier this year after the resignation of former Liberal leader Sussan Ley, told Insiders that the party's stated target of 130,000 excluded certain categories of workers, including those on the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, skilled aged care nurses, and other in-demand skilled workers. Adding those groups, he said, would amount to a "minimum" of 100,000 additional arrivals per year, bringing the total to about 230,000—5,000 more than the government's budget forecast of 225,000 for the coming four years.

"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," Farley said. "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."

His remarks were quickly contradicted by Hanson, who took to social media to reaffirm that One Nation's policy is to reduce net overseas migration to 130,000. She said short-term seasonal agricultural workers were not counted in net overseas migration because they did not meet the residency test, and that cuts would come from fewer international students and dependants, a reduction in temporary graduate visas, and a more targeted skilled migration program.

"One Nation's target is less than half of Labor's current level," she wrote, adding: "Labor opened the floodgates to mass migration and has repeatedly blown its own migration forecasts since coming to government."

Coalition defends, Labor criticises

The internal discord became a focus of political attacks, with both major parties weighing in. On Seven's Sunrise program, Nat Barr pressed One Nation's Barnaby Joyce over the conflicting figures. Joyce initially insisted the party's target was "130 net," saying "We've been saying that all along," before acknowledging Farley had misspoken.

"Show me a political career where people haven't made a mistake, and I'll show you a person who's not told the truth," Joyce said. "I'm not going to throw anybody under a bus. When people are new in parliament, they can sometimes get things incorrect, and that's what happens. God knows, I've done it enough."

Labor figures were less forgiving. Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek accused One Nation of failing to present a consistent policy, saying "If there's three One Nation MPs in a room, there's three different immigration policies." Federal minister Pat Conroy told ABC Radio: "What we saw in the last 24 hours demonstrated why they're not fit to govern."

Energy Minister Chris Bowen welcomed Farley's comments, noting that his numbers were "very similar" to the government's approach. "Our target is 225,000. That's our projection. When you add up what he was saying this morning, he basically gets to the same number," Bowen said.

Opposition immigration spokesman Jonno Duniam said voters were owed a clear explanation. "These are not semantic distinctions. They have real consequences for housing, infrastructure, essential services, wages, jobs and the economy," he said.

Policy confusion reflects broader debate

The confusion over One Nation's migration numbers comes amid a wider political rethink on migration, prompted partly by One Nation's rise in opinion polls, which have shown voters trust the party to manage migration better than the major parties. The Coalition, which has been developing its own migration policy to counter One Nation, has declined to provide a specific figure, with Opposition Leader Angus Taylor indicating it would be "substantially below" 200,000 and tied to housing construction rates.

The Labor government has also been preparing changes to its migration system. Immigration Minister Tony Burke's National Press Club address in August was cancelled after the policy was not signed off by cabinet amid internal disagreement.

Farley's electorate of Farrer relies heavily on migrant workers; more than two-thirds of workers in local slaughterhouses and processing units are migrants. He noted that the PALM scheme brings in about 40,000 workers a year, and skilled aged care nurses add another 70,000. These figures, he argued, were essential to the economy and should be considered separately from the "true" net overseas migration figure.

Perspectives

Pauline Hanson / One Nation leadership: Maintains the party's policy is a net overseas migration target of 130,000 per year, less than half of Labor's current level, achieved by cutting international students and temporary graduate visas and making skilled migration more targeted.

David Farley / One Nation MP: Argues the 130,000 figure excludes essential worker categories like PALM and aged care nurses, adding at least 100,000 people, making the effective intake about 230,000—similar to Labor's forecast.

Labor Party: Seizes on the contradiction as evidence One Nation is divided and incoherent on policy, with some ministers welcoming Farley's comments as aligning with the government's approach.

Coalition: Criticises One Nation for making policy "on the run" and demands clarity, while declining to reveal its own migration numbers, saying they will be tied to housing construction and announced closer to the next election.