Hanson accuses Burke of secret million-migrant plan

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has launched a blistering attack on Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, accusing the government of secretly planning to bring an additional million migrants into Australia over the next four years. The assault, posted on social media ahead of parliament's return, comes as Hanson prepares to introduce a foreign fighters bill that legal experts say is destined to fail in the High Court.

A controversial bill

Hanson's party will this week introduce the Protecting Australians from Foreign Terrorist Fighters Bill, its first complete policy proposal of the current term. The bill would strengthen powers to cancel or refuse passports, toughen bail laws for terrorism charges, and create a new “foreign terrorist fighter exclusion order” that the minister could ask the Federal Court to impose. The existing exclusion order regime under ministerial control would remain.

But the proposal has drawn sharp criticism. Burke said the bill “would last about 30 seconds in the High Court”, and constitutional law expert Anne Twomey told this masthead the proposal appeared to be a delaying mechanism that would achieve little. Undeterred, Hanson claimed Twomey saw it as “a good piece of legislation that is robust enough to withstand a challenge in the High Court”. Twomey was contacted for comment but did not respond.

Migration numbers in the spotlight

Hanson's broader attack on Burke's migration management came after the minister abruptly delayed the announcement of the government's migration overhaul package last week. In a Facebook post, Hanson accused Labor of lying about its attempts to curb net overseas migration and claimed the government had already brought in 1.5 million people in four years.

“They already brought in 1.5 million in four years. That’s why your rent exploded, your pay went backwards, and your kids can’t buy a home. It’s why hospitals are turning away sick people,” she wrote.

Burke is expected to provide more detail in coming days on a plan to reduce net overseas migration to a budget forecast of 225,000 per year. The government is reportedly weighing changes to the skilled migration program, stricter rules on working holidaymakers and family reunion visas, and reduced working rights for visa overstayers.

Hanson's side trip

The One Nation leader's parliamentary return follows a controversy over her appearance on Seven's Spotlight program with British anti-Islam extremist Tommy Robinson. Hanson was unapologetic about the interview and claimed Seven originally agreed to pay for the trip but pulled out, forcing her party to cover a $900-a-night hotel bill. She disputed reports that the party paid for an empty room while she was on a side trip to Sicily, partly funded by mining magnate Gina Rinehart, to attend a Dolce & Gabbana fashion show.

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce doubled down on Hanson's migration comments, telling News24 that migrants were the reason “you can’t get anywhere” when driving. Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Thistlethwaite defended Burke, but Hanson's attacks appear aimed at capitalizing on the government's political vulnerability over migration.

What's next

As parliament resumes, Hanson is seeking to dominate the agenda with her bill and her accusations. The government, meanwhile, is recalibrating its migration policy amid internal concerns about backlash and unresolved costs. The coming fortnight will test whether Hanson's populist message gains traction and whether the government can counter her claims while delivering a credible migration plan.