Pauline Hanson faces call to apologise for ‘attack’ on PM’s mum

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson should apologise for her “appalling” criticism of Anthony Albanese’s late mother for living in public housing, a senior minister has said as backlash over her comments grows.

The Prime Minister’s mother, Maryanne Albanese, spent much of her life in public housing in Sydney’s Inner West, where she raised her son by herself

She and her son relied on a disability pension because severe rheumatoid arthritis crippled her joints.

Mr Albanese often speaks about his mother and poor upbringing, which Senator Hanson dismissed as “pathetic” in an interview this week.

She said those in public housing on the street where she grew up “had jobs”.

“Housing commission houses should not be there for people to live in them for 30, 40 (years), and he said his mother lived in the same one she was born in for 65 years,” Senator Hanson told broadcaster-turned-podcaster Karl Stefanovic.

“You have been given a hand up, move it on to the next ones coming through.”

The comments have sparked condemnation, with Trade Minister Don Farrell saying on Sunday that “attacking somebody’s mother … is appalling”.

“It was an appalling remark,” he told News24, adding that “Anthony loves his mother”.

“I certainly loved my mother. To have them attacked publicly in this way is just appalling.

“There’s a certain bitterness in One Nation’s approach to the world that I find quite un-Australian”.

He called on Senator Hanson to apologise and noted that he “spent almost an hour with Pauline this week going through some of the issues that she’s concerned about”.

“She wants dignity and respect from her fellow parliamentarians – attacking the Prime Minister’s mother like this is not a way to get respect and dignity from your colleagues, and I think Pauline should reflect upon the attack on the Prime Minister’s mother and withdraw those comments and apologise,” Senator Farrell said.

“I don’t think there’s any other way forward for her over this issue.”