One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has stated she does not care if cuts to skilled migration negatively affect Australian businesses. Speaking amid Labor's handling of leaked immigration overhaul plans, Hanson emphasized her focus on preserving a "decent standard of living" and Australia's "way of life."

In an interview with News24 (formerly Sky News), Senator Hanson said, "Whether it is going to affect their businesses, they're not going to sell that many products, or you know, the universities because they're not going to have that number of foreign students coming in here. I don't care."

Hanson also expressed a desire to revise the skilled migration list to prioritize professions such as doctors, nurses, and engineers who would "benefit our country."

One Nation's policy aims to reduce migration to 130,000 per year, though it remains unclear whether this figure applies to net overseas migration (NOM) or permanent migration. Hanson clarified that this reduction targets permanent migration, while short-term visas for backpackers and tourists would remain unaffected.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce has warned that such immigration cuts could deter skilled migrants, undermine the migration system, and harm the economy.

Although One Nation has not specified all countries targeted by its policies, Hanson previously told parliament in 2016 that people of Muslim faith bear a culture and ideology "incompatible with our own," claiming Australia was at risk of being "swamped by Muslims," with Gaza mentioned as an exception.

Sources