‘Will of the people’: Pauline Hanson defends migration plan amid economic fears

Pauline Hanson has denied Australia’s GDP would be dealt a blow by One Nation’s plan to massively cut migration, stating she does not “trust these economists”.

Speaking for the first time since announcing One Nation’s plan to cut Australia’s temporary migration intake by 750,000 over three years, Senator Hanson told News24 on Tuesday the policy was the “will of the people” and that she would be willing to have it ventilated by the independent Parliamentary Budget Office.

“But, did they get it right with the Snowy 2.0 scheme? Did they get it right with the NBN?

“You know, all these things … they’ve all budgeted for this and it’s always been a blowout as well.”

Experts have warned One Nation’s plan could lead to a technical recession, with devastating impacts on many sectors, including hospitality and agriculture.

Asked about risks the policy would drive a recessions, Senator Hanson said: “I don’t believe so.”

“This is what people have been screaming out for many, many years to address the mass migration that we’ve had imposed on us as a nation,” she said.

“What I’m doing is implementing the will of the people. They want to cut the mass migration, and we’ve put out a comprehensive policy.”

Senator Hanson sought to draw comparisons with Canada, which slowed a post-pandemic immigration increase by cutting overseas students and other arrivals.

“A lot of work and research has gone into this. It’s also based on what happened in Canada,” she said.

“The country hasn’t fallen apart. It’s actually improved living standards of people and it’s cut back rents about $1000 a year. So, it has worked. “

Senator Hanson denied there would be “a hit to GDP” from the measures.

“I think people’s quality of life will improve, as it has in Canada,” she said.

Pressed, she continued: “Well, you know, I’ll tell you what, do you trust these economists? What they come out and say? Because I don’t.”