One Nation lawmaker Barnaby Joyce initially said the party would force foreign permanent residents to sell homes or face state seizure, then backtracked on air after consulting colleagues. The remark comes as One Nation has surged in polling to become Australia's most popular party. Officials point to housing affordability and cost-of-living pressures as drivers of the party's growing support.
One Nation Backtracks After Lawmaker's Remark About Seizing Foreign Residents' Homes
A bombshell opinion poll last week showed One Nation, for decades a fringe group led by provocateur Pauline Hanson (C), was now the country's most popular party (David GRAY)(David GRAY/AFP/AFP)
A senior One Nation figure has clarified that the party would not evict foreign permanent residents or seize their homes after an on-air remark suggested otherwise.
One Nation has surged in recent polling to become Australia's most popular political party — a remarkable development for the movement led by Pauline Hanson. The controversy began during a Sky News Australia interview when One Nation lawmaker Barnaby Joyce said the party, if it won power, would force foreign permanent residents either to sell their properties or have them seized by the state.
“Commit yourself totally to this nation and your problems are solved, but if you want to have a foot in two camps then in two camps you'll have your feet,” Joyce said on air.
Afterward, Joyce reportedly rang colleagues, sought to rephrase his answer and returned to the broadcaster to retract the initial statement. “On further investigation and discussion... no, we are not going to be kicking permanent residents out of their house,” he said.
The episode comes as One Nation promotes policies that include significant cuts to immigration and strong criticism of what it calls “radical Islam.” The party's rise has prompted debate about whether Australia's voting system can remain insulated from the global growth of populist movements.
An Australian government economy minister said this week that legitimate concerns about housing affordability and the cost of living are driving some voters toward One Nation.
Barnaby Joyce, a former deputy prime minister, is a polarising figure and has attracted substantial media attention over a number of public controversies.
Political analysts say the incident highlights the risks for parties when senior figures make abrupt or inflammatory comments and that the episode may intensify scrutiny of One Nation's platform as its support grows.
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