Barnaby Joyce says new One Nation MP ‘made a mistake’ on migration policy

Barnaby Joyce has claimed his One Nation colleague “made a mistake” in stating the party’s net overseas migration figure as “not too different” from the Albanese government’s target.

David Farley – who clinched the seat of Farrer for One Nation in May – told ABC Insiders on Sunday the party’s goal of 130,000 total net overseas migration (NOM) was the “true form” of the figure.

He argued this target excluded other forms of migration, including temporary workers from the Pacific Islands, skilled workers, and backpackers, among others, which would add at least

Labor’s NOM target is 245,000 for 2026-27 and 225,000 for both 2027-28 and 2028-29, close to Mr Farley’s proposition of about 230,000.

“I think the big difference is we’re focusing on what are the skills we need as a nation? “Where do we need these migrants to be?” Mr Farley said on Sunday. “But the raw number is not too different (to Labor).”

The Farrer MP’s remarks prompted a rebuke from Pauline Hanson, who took to social media to insist that One Nation’s NOM target was “less than half Labor’s current level”.

“The cuts will come from fewer international students and dependants, a dramatic reduction in temporary graduate visas and their dependants, and a much more targeted skilled migration program focused on the skills Australia genuinely needs,” the One Nation leader wrote.

On Monday, Mr Joyce doubled down on Senator Hanson’s position and said Mr Farley’s assessment of the NOM target was not accurate.

Asked if Mr Farley misspoke, Mr Joyce said: “Yeah. Well, I mean that’s not unusual.”

“Show me a political career where people haven’t made you know made a made a mistake, and I’ll show you a person who’s not told the truth,” he said.

One Nation had seemingly raised the matter with Mr Farley, but Mr Joyce would not go into details.

“Oh, look, I’m not going to throw anybody under a bus,” the New England MP said. “When people are new in parliament, they can sometimes get things incorrect, and that’s what happens. God knows I’ve done it enough.”

Originally published as Barnaby Joyce says new One Nation MP ‘made a mistake’ on migration policy