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Andrew Brown

'Basic facts': One Nation slammed for migration muddle

One Nation has been struggling to explain the details of its migration policy. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

One Nation will not say how many permanent migrants will feature in its overall targets as the party tries to clarify its immigration numbers.

Pauline Hanson's anti-immigration party has been under pressure to specify details of its migration policy after differing targets were cited by various members.

The party has put forward a policy of an annual net overseas migration rate of 130,000 people, but federal MP David Farley said there could be an extra 100,000 on top of that.

That figure would put annual net overseas migration above the 225,000 target proposed by Labor, a significant decrease on the 2025 tally of 301,000 people.

One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce clarified on Sunday the 130,000 net target would remain.

But he would not say how much of that figure would be made up of permanent migrants, adding that net migration was based on a number of factors.

"To get to a (net overseas migration) of 130,000, it's going to be very hard to do that unless we're substantially below the permanent migration numbers of Labor," he told News24.

A fruit picker
Barnaby Joyce admits regional Pacific workers could be in addition to the net migration tally. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

The One Nation MP added Pacific workers, who mostly come to regional areas as part of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme, would largely be in addition to the 130,000 net figure.

"Things such as the PALM scheme ... are not counted in the net overseas migration number," Mr Joyce said.

"(Only) a small portion are because they don't stay for 12 months, they stay generally for a period of nine."

But Pacific Minister Pat Conroy said half the cohort of workers would typically count towards net migration figures.

"Half of all PALM workers are on the four-year visa, so that would count for (net overseas migration)," he said.

"If (One Nation's) arguing that PALM is on top of 130,000, they're arguing for a much more substantial figure than what they said only this week.

"Barnaby got basic facts wrong about the proportion of PALM workers that count ... their figures are all over the shop."

Jonathon Duniam
Jonathon Duniam says One Nation is unlikely to get its migration numbers down to 130,000 people. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

Labor was set to unveil its overhaul of migration policy in a speech by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke at the National Press Club earlier in August.

However, the speech was cancelled at the eleventh hour after cabinet failed to sign off on the changes amid internal party division on the issue.

Mr Conroy said the policy would be announced in due course.

"What you're seeing is good government in action, rather than thought bubbles," he said.

"We'll do it in a sensible, orderly way."

Opposition immigration spokesman Jonathon Duniam said One Nation was unlikely to get its migration numbers down to 130,000 people.

"I don't know how they've arrived at 130,000. Who is in that makeup of numbers there? How will that impact on the economy?" he said.

"They've got to actually work out what they stand for and be clear and make sure people understand it."

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