Hanson’s migration plan is sloppy, but Albanese has missed the moment

September 14, 2026 — 7:28pm

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The haphazard method by which One Nation landed its plan to temporarily lower the population through migration has added to doubts about its ability to run the country.

That doesn’t change the fact that Pauline Hanson’s plan for more departures than arrivals is a paradigm shift in the debate.

Labor stuffed up tactically in early August when Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke’s speech announcing an immigration crackdown was canned at the last minute.

That rare blunder became a broader strategic muddle as Labor’s internal divisions were exposed. Delays allowed vested interests to lobby for keeping strong flows of students and low-wage workers.

The void was filled by Hanson, who can move quickly because her party doesn’t bother with forecasts on the economic consequences major parties claim will be substantial.

Instead of landing on a compelling argument to convince voters that migration was working in the interests of Australians, not the other way around, Albanese has been making rote appeals to the diversity-as-strength mantra. A more substantive pivot was required for progressives to prove they had responsible solutions to what polls show is mainstream concern about migration.

The PM’s latest migration plan aims to lure Taylor and eliminate Hanson

The Hanson plan to cut by........

© Brisbane Times