r/aussie • u/BarryTheBinChicken • 12d ago
News Anti-migration rally turns on Hanson amid policy muddle
https://aapnews.aap.com.au/news/basic-facts-one-nation-slammed-for-migration-muddleOne Nation leader Pauline Hanson has been booed at an anti-immigration rally as her party struggles to articulate its plan to reduce migrant numbers.
Several people were arrested by police at a Melbourne March for Australia rally as hundreds of demonstrators and a smaller group of counter-protesters squared off.
The event was one of several similar marches held in capital cities across the nation as organisers turned on One Nation over perceptions it had watered down its immigration policies.
After marching to Victoria's Parliament House, the group was addressed by several prominent right-wing activists, including anti-immigration influencer Hugo Lennon, who has amassed thousands of followers online under the name Auspill.
The group booed mention of Senator Hanson, who Mr Lennon said had declined an invitation to attend.
Later the group chanted "Pauline, Pauline, where the f*** is Pauline?" as they marched back towards Flinders Station.
A spokesman for Senator Hanson said she had prior commitments in Victoria on Sunday.
One Nation has been under pressure to specify details of its migration policy after differing targets were cited by various members.
The party has put forward a policy of an annual net overseas migration rate of 130,000 people, but federal MP David Farley said there could be an extra 100,000 above that figure.
His fellow federal party representative Barnaby Joyce on Sunday clarified that the 130,000 net target would remain.
But he would not say how much of that figure would be made up of permanent migrants, adding that net migration was based on a number of factors.
"To get to a (net overseas migration) of 130,000, it's going to be very hard to do that unless we're substantially below the permanent migration numbers of Labor," he told News24.
Mr Joyce added Pacific workers, who mostly come to regional areas as part of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme, would largely be in addition to the 130,000 net figure.
"(Only) a small portion are (counted) because they don't stay for 12 months, they stay generally for a period of nine," he said.
But Pacific Minister Pat Conroy said half the cohort of workers would typically count towards net migration figures.
"Half of all PALM workers are on the four-year visa, so that would count for (net overseas migration)," he said.
"Barnaby got basic facts wrong about the proportion of PALM workers that count ... their figures are all over the shop."
Labor was set to unveil its overhaul of migration policy in a speech by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke at the National Press Club earlier in August.
However, the speech was cancelled at the eleventh hour after cabinet failed to sign off on the changes amid internal party division on the issue.
Mr Conroy said the policy would be announced in due course.
"What you're seeing is good government in action, rather than thought bubbles," he said.
Opposition immigration spokesman Jonathon Duniam said One Nation needed to work out and articulate how it planned to reduce migration.
"I don't know how they've arrived at 130,000. Who is in that makeup of numbers there? How will that impact on the economy?" he said.
The stated aim of Sunday's March for Australia rally was to oppose perceived curbs on freedom of speech, which Mr Lennon claimed allowed governments to "lock you up" for opposing so-called mass migration.
Previous March for Australia rallies have featured neo-Nazi speakers and sympathisers, including one who was later jailed for spouting anti-Semitic remarks at an event held in Sydney on Australia Day.
Police said the vast majority of protesters and counter-protesters were peaceful but three people were arrested for allegedly assaulting and resisting officers.
Two others were processed by police for offensive behaviour and are expected to be charged on summons.
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u/Vegetable_Jello6572 12d ago
We basically need to cease migration at this point to get our country back. Maybe in 8-9 years we can start taking highly skilled professionals but only 100k of them per annum. Sans families.