Key facts
- One Nation's Victorian leader, Warren Pickering, has stated that mass deportations, a key policy of federal leader Pauline Hanson, are "not a reality" and "won't happen."
- Pickering also admitted that One Nation has used "ghost candidates" in elections to boost its Senate vote count and secure public funding.
- He suggested that politicians over the age of 55 should transition to training younger generations.
- Senator Malcolm Roberts has also advocated for "remigration" of visa overstayers and international students.
- Pauline Hanson has previously expressed support for the concept of mass deportation.
One Nation's Victorian leader, Warren Pickering, has cast doubt on the party's signature policy of mass deportations, stating that such actions are "not a reality" and "won't happen" in any western country. Pickering, who was recently unveiled as the party's leader for Victoria's upcoming state election, made these comments in podcast interviews earlier this year.
His remarks contrast with the stance of federal leader Pauline Hanson, who has publicly embraced the idea of deporting tens of thousands of people, including those who have overstayed their visas. Pickering, however, suggested that while advocating for such policies is possible, their implementation is unlikely. He also stated that One Nation would not discriminate against current Australian citizens.
In the same interviews, Pickering also admitted that One Nation has utilized "ghost candidates" in past elections. These are individuals who are officially on the ballot but do not actively campaign, a tactic used to increase the party's vote count in the upper house and secure public funding. Pickering defended this practice, suggesting it is common among political parties.
Furthermore, Pickering proposed that politicians over the age of 55 should transition out of active roles and focus on training younger generations to take over. He noted that One Nation has made efforts to involve younger members.
These comments come as One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts has also been a vocal proponent of "remigration" for international students and visa overstayers. Hanson herself has expressed enthusiasm for the concept of mass deportation, though the party has consistently avoided detailing how such a policy would be enacted.