Pauline Hanson has doubled down on One Nation’s long-standing push for a major reduction in Australia’s migration intake, arguing the country should prioritise essential skilled workers while ending what she describes as an influx of migrants filling jobs that are not facing genuine shortages.

The One Nation leader reignited the national migration debate after declaring Australia no longer needs more “Uber drivers, nail technicians and dog walkers”, describing aspects of the current migration system as “an absolute scam”. Her comments come as the Albanese Government continues refining its own migration reforms while facing mounting political pressure over housing affordability, infrastructure demand and population growth.

Speaking on News24, Senator Hanson reiterated One Nation’s proposal to reduce annual net overseas migration to around 130,000 people, arguing Australia should focus on migrants who fill genuine workforce shortages rather than occupations she believes provide little strategic benefit.

“It’s been an absolute scam,” Senator Hanson said.

“Why bring in so many people that don’t fit the needs that we want in Australia? We don’t need any more Uber drivers, nail technicians, dog walkers.”

According to Hanson, Australia should instead reserve migration places for professions experiencing critical shortages, including doctors, nurses and other highly skilled workers who contribute directly to the economy and essential services.

The proposal reflects One Nation’s long-standing position that migration levels should be substantially lower than current government settings. Hanson said she has consistently advocated tighter immigration controls for decades and believes recent public concern over housing affordability and cost-of-living pressures has strengthened support for her party’s approach.

Migration has become one of the defining political issues in Australia following the sharp rebound in arrivals after international borders reopened following the COVID-19 pandemic. Net overseas migration peaked at approximately 556,000 in late 2022 before easing to around 301,000 over the past year, according to official figures cited during the debate.

The Albanese Government has already reduced migration projections from their post-pandemic highs and has announced that the 2026-27 permanent Migration Program will remain at 185,000 places, with around 70 per cent allocated to skilled migrants and the remaining 30 per cent to family migration.

However, Hanson argues those figures remain too high and believes lower migration would ease pressure on Australia’s housing market.

“We have too many people coming to the country,” she said.

She maintained that reducing migration would help address Australia’s ongoing housing shortage while still allowing businesses and health services to recruit genuinely needed professionals from overseas.

The comments were made as Immigration Minister Tony Burke delayed a planned National Press Club address that was expected to outline additional migration reforms. The government later confirmed work was continuing on measures designed to strengthen the integrity of Australia’s migration system rather than announce another reduction in headline migration targets.

According to reports, cabinet has been considering measures aimed at preventing people from exploiting legal processes to remain in Australia for extended periods after their visas expire, as well as broader changes intended to improve administration of the migration system. Government sources have indicated the objective is to ensure existing migration forecasts are achieved rather than introduce an additional cut to overall numbers.

One recent administrative change has involved adjusting skilled visa processing priorities so that temporary visa holders already living in Australia receive higher priority for permanent visas. The approach is intended to reduce the number of new overseas arrivals while helping the government meet its projected migration targets.

Hanson claimed growing public support for stricter migration controls has influenced both the Labor Government and the Coalition.

She suggested Immigration Minister Tony Burke had postponed announcing reforms because migration has become an increasingly sensitive political issue as One Nation’s polling improves. While the government has not accepted that characterisation, migration policy has become one of the most closely watched issues ahead of future elections.

The debate has also highlighted differing views about Australia’s future workforce needs.

Business organisations have repeatedly argued that migration remains essential for addressing labour shortages across sectors including mining, healthcare, engineering, construction and advanced manufacturing. Industry representatives warn that significantly reducing skilled migration could make it more difficult for Australian businesses to recruit specialist workers and complete major projects.

Hanson has rejected those concerns, arguing Australia should first invest in training local workers before relying on overseas recruitment. She has also maintained that migration policy should place greater emphasis on protecting housing availability, public infrastructure and living standards for existing residents.

The broader discussion reflects a continuing shift in Australia’s migration debate, with policymakers attempting to balance economic growth, labour market demand and population pressures. While the government continues to support skilled migration as an important contributor to the economy, it has also introduced measures aimed at improving visa integrity and slowing the exceptional migration growth experienced immediately after the pandemic.

One Nation’s proposal to reduce migration to approximately 130,000 people annually would represent a significant reduction from the government’s current permanent migration program and remains one of the party’s signature policy positions. Whether such a target could be implemented would ultimately depend on parliamentary support and the outcome of future federal elections.

For now, migration remains one of Australia’s most politically contested issues, with debate continuing over how many migrants the country needs, which skills should be prioritised and how migration policy should respond to ongoing challenges including housing affordability, workforce shortages and economic growth.