Pauline Hanson, leader of One Nation, recently unveiled her strategy to tackle the escalating cost of living and housing issues. Her speech, however, was abruptly ended when she exceeded her allotted speaking time. Delivered amidst the backdrop of the Albanese government’s contentious shifts in policies on negative gearing and capital gains tax, Hanson argued these changes would exacerbate economic stagnation, elevate rents, and limit housing availability. She noted, “Housing has only become a national crisis since Labor assumed office. Currently, over 40% of building a new home is burdened by government taxes and excessive compliance costs.” Hanson proposed a bold initiative: “We will eliminate the GST on building materials for homes valued up to $1 million for the next five years.”
Ending the Divide
Hanson also emphasized the need to regulate migration levels. “Rapid population increase without corresponding housing supply results in declining living standards. This isn’t about blaming migrants but acknowledging capacity constraints,” she stated. Citing Canada as an example, Hanson highlighted how reducing migration helped alleviate housing pressures: “Canada sharply reduced migration starting in 2024, resulting in 18 consecutive months of falling rents and stabilizing house prices, a move we strongly advocate for.” Additionally, Hanson vowed that One Nation would ensure equal treatment for all Australians. “We will dismantle divisive cultural departments and programs that segregate Australians by race,” she asserted.
Unity Over Division
“Under one flag and one culture, every Australian will be treated equally. Assistance will be based on genuine need rather than race. No more special privileges—equal rights for all, and exclusive rights for none. Taxpayer-funded welcome to country rituals will cease. Unity fosters strength; division weakens it,” Hanson declared. Shifting her focus to energy, Hanson stressed the importance of bolstering Australia’s domestic resilience, including maintaining sufficient fuel reserves, dependable energy systems, and ensuring food and water security. “The current liquid fuel crisis has not only highlighted our domestic vulnerabilities but has also signaled to potential adversaries how susceptible we could be in a conflict,” she warned.
‘One Nation will cut the red, green and black tape that is strangling projects and fast-track major approvals, especially energy projects, to a maximum of six months.’ Hanson also said her party would ‘ditch net zero’ and exit the Paris Agreement while axing the climate change department in an effort to lower power bills. ‘We will back coal and gas and support bringing nuclear power online to bring down prices, restore reliability and guarantee national energy security,’ she said. Hanson said she would next week introduce a gas policy that will underwrite Australia’s sovereign resource assets ‘for decades to come’. ‘A strong nation leverages its natural advantages. It does not demonise them,’ Hanson said.
But as she began reading out her closing remarks around the 15-minute mark, Hanson was cut short, with the Senate adjourning for the evening before the One Nation leader was granted leave to finish. Hanson told reporters in Canberra this week that the centrepiece of her economic pitch would be to let couples with childrensplit their incomes for tax purposes, which could save families thousands of dollars a year. ‘Income splitting means those people who stay home with their children aren’t penalised,’ Hanson said. ‘Why should we force parents into a system where both have to work just to make ends meet?’ For example, if one parent earns $120,000 and the other earns nothing, the family could save about $9,500 a year in tax by being treated as two people earning $60,000 each.
If one parent earns $120,000 and the other earns $30,000, they would save about $2,000 a year if their income was split evenly to $75,000 each for tax purposes. Hanson on Thursday also accused the Coalition of borrowing ideas from One Nation. ‘While they’ve been telling everyone that One Nation has no policies, they’ve been reading them very carefully because they’re desperate for some good ideas,’ she said in a statement.
