Barnaby Joyce denies One Nation wants White Australia policy after Hanson backs mass deportations

One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce claims Pauline Hanson’s party does not support the White Australia policy but has backed the idea of “mass deportations”, including people seeking medical appointments after overstaying their visas.

In Joyce’s interview on Sunrise, he didn’t distance himself from Hanson’s comments about “mass deportations” of illegal immigrants to Australia. “As it becomes apparent that they’re not supposed to be here, they’ll be put on a plane and sent back to where they’re supposed to. We’ve got to make sure, as people present themselves for medical issues or other things, they’re removed from the country. I mean, obviously you’re going to come across them from time to time. They should be removed.”

One Nation has had to issue multiple clarifications over the weekend after Hanson’s interview with far-right British activist Tommy Robinson, where she blamed the end of the White Australia policy for creating what she sees as problems with migration.

Asked by Robinson about “the changing face of Australia due to Islamic immigration”, Hanson replied, “They opened up and got rid of the White Australian policy, then they started bringing in the different migrants.”

Just back on that Sunrise interview, Tanya Plibersek, who was also appearing alongside Barnaby Joyce, also made some comments about Hanson’s interview. “Hanson] very clearly said that the problems started after we got rid of the white Australia policy and she also backed in “mass deportation” and said that all of her members of parliament support her in that call for mass deportation.”