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

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 if this figure refers to net overseas migration (NOM) or permanent migration. Hanson clarified that this reduction would apply to permanent migration, while short-term visas like those for backpackers and tourists would remain separate.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce has criticized such immigration restrictions, warning they would deter skilled migrants, "undermine" the migration system, and harm the economy.

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

Meanwhile, Labor was managing the fallout from leaked proposals by Immigration Minister Tony Burke, which included plans to prevent partners and children of Australian citizens from applying for family visas on-shore and to limit working holiday visas.

Sources