Pauline Hanson is facing calls to apologise for criticising Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s late mother over the length of time she spent in public housing.
Trade Minister Don Farrell condemned the One Nation leader’s remarks as “appalling”, saying an attack on the Prime Minister’s mother was unacceptable.
Maryanne Albanese raised her son alone in public housing in Sydney’s Inner West. She and Mr Albanese relied on a disability pension after severe rheumatoid arthritis left her with crippled joints.
Mr Albanese has frequently spoken about his mother and their poor upbringing. But in an interview this week, Senator Hanson dismissed his account as “pathetic” and questioned why people could remain in public housing for decades.
“Housing commission houses should not be there for people to live in them for 30, 40 (years), and he said his mother lived in the same one she was born in for 65 years,” she told broadcaster-turned-podcaster Karl Stefanovic.
“Sorry, that is not on, to me – it should be limited time. You have been given a hand up, move it on to the next ones coming through.”
Senator Farrell said Senator Hanson should withdraw the comments and apologise, arguing that Mr Albanese loved his mother.
“Attacking somebody’s mother … is appalling,” he told News24. “There’s a certain bitterness in One Nation’s approach to the world that I find quite un-Australian.”
He said he had spent almost an hour with Senator Hanson during the week discussing issues that concerned her, but added that criticising the Prime Minister’s mother would not earn her “dignity and respect” from fellow parliamentarians.
“I think Pauline should reflect upon the attack on the Prime Minister’s mother and withdraw those comments and apologise,” Senator Farrell said. “I don’t think there’s any other way forward for her over this issue.”
Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie also said mothers should be left out of political disputes, describing the episode as another indication to Australians that Senator Hanson was “not fit to be prime minister”.
“I reckon mums you leave out of politics,” Mr Hastie said, adding that he had always tried to be respectful towards Senator Hanson.
