One Nation faces migration policy confusion after MP comments

One Nation is facing internal confusion regarding its migration policy after MP David Farley suggested the party’s actual migration intake would be significantly higher than its publicized target of 130,000 net overseas migrants (NOM) per year.

During an interview on ABC’s Insiders, Farley stated that the 130,000 figure excludes essential categories such as the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, aged-care workers, and backpackers. He estimated these additional groups would add at least 100,000 people annually, bringing the total to approximately 230,000—a figure closely aligned with the Labor government’s own forecasts.

Following these comments, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and Senator Barnaby Joyce issued clarifications. Hanson used social media to reiterate that the policy is to cut net migration to 130,000, while Joyce defended Farley, suggesting the MP had simply made a mistake common to new parliamentarians. The controversy has drawn criticism from Labor officials, who characterized the party's messaging as incoherent.