One Nation candidate David Farley said migration levels are not too high during a debate in Albury, New South Wales.
The statement creates a public rift within the party just one week before the Farrer by-election. Because immigration control is a cornerstone of the party's platform, a high-profile candidate contradicting this stance could signal internal instability or a shift in voter appeal.
Farley's comments directly oppose the official policy of party leader Pauline Hanson. One Nation maintains a strict policy to cap immigration arrivals at 130,000 per year [1]. By suggesting current levels are acceptable, Farley has distanced himself from the party's central ideological pillar.
The disagreement comes amid significant data regarding actual migration flows. Reports indicate that 306,000 migrants arrived in the last financial year [2]. This figure is more than double the cap proposed by One Nation, highlighting the gap between the party's goals and the current reality.
The debate in Albury served as a platform for Farley to voice his perspective, though it has left the party facing questions about discipline. The Farrer by-election remains the immediate focus for the party as it attempts to maintain a unified front.
One Nation has not issued a formal response to Farley's comments. The party continues to advocate for the 130,000 arrival limit [1] as the primary solution to manage national growth, and infrastructure pressure.
“David Farley said migration levels are not too high”
This internal contradiction suggests a potential struggle within One Nation to balance strict ideological purity with the pragmatic views of individual candidates. When a candidate breaks ranks on a core policy—especially one as central as the immigration cap—it may either alienate the party's hardline base or represent an attempt to broaden the party's appeal to moderate voters in the Farrer electorate.
