Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce (One Nation) corrected a fellow party member on Monday regarding One Nation's official net migration target.
The correction highlights internal alignment issues within the party as it seeks to differentiate its immigration platform from that of the federal government.
During a press briefing at Parliament House in Canberra, Joyce addressed comments made by David Farley (One Nation), the MP for Farrer. Joyce said that Farley had misstated the party's position on immigration targets. The discrepancy arose after Farley suggested a figure that closely mirrored the current proposal from the federal government [2].
Joyce clarified that the party's specific goal is significantly lower than the government's targets. He said that the target is approximately 130,000 [1] people.
"It's 130,000 net – that means if you take the people coming, and ..." Joyce said [1].
One Nation, led by Pauline Hanson, has long campaigned on the premise of reducing the number of people entering the country to alleviate pressure on infrastructure, and housing. The public correction by the Deputy Prime Minister serves to reinforce the party's commitment to a stricter cap than what is currently being pursued by the administration [2].
The interaction occurred during a live-blogged federal politics interview, where the nuances of "net" migration — the difference between the number of immigrants arriving and the number of people leaving — were discussed [1]. By specifying a net figure, Joyce said he aimed to provide a concrete baseline for the party's policy platform and eliminate any perceived overlap with government strategy [2].
“"It's 130,000 net – that means if you take the people coming, and ..."”
This public correction indicates a strategic effort by One Nation to maintain a distinct political identity from the federal government on the issue of migration. By insisting on a specific net target of 130,000, the party is positioning itself as the more aggressive alternative for voters who believe current government caps are too high.
