Live: Joyce says One Nation doesn't support White Australia policy

Barnaby Joyce says his party doesn't support the White Australia policy after Pauline Hanson blamed the end of the policy for Australia's migration issues.Follow all the updates in our live blog. Mon 20 Jul 2026 at 7:25amMon 20 Jul 2026 at 7:25amBarnaby Joyce denies One Nation supports White Australia policyOne Nation MP Barnaby Joyce says his party does not support the White Australia policy, despite previous comments from his leader.Pauline Hanson appeared on a podcast that was released last week with UK far-right activist and convicted criminal Tommy Robinson.In the podcast with Robinson, the One Nation leader blamed the end of the White Australia policy for migration issues in Australia.Speaking to Channel Seven, Joyce says the end of the White Australia policy was a "very good thing," but that, after the policy ended, people have come to Australia over time, encompassing a "whole range of views"."It's a statement of fact that, and Pauline herself said, it started from [former PM Harold] Holt actually, the wind down of the White Australia policy, a very good thing, and at the start there was really no issues with it," Joyce says."But over time, we got a section of people who didn't want to assimilate with Australia, didn't work within the guardrails of Australia and therefore we started moving away from an Australian culture to having to encompass a whole range of views, some of which are just not conducive to an egalitarian, easy-going society."In last night's program, Pauline Hanson backed a policy of mass deportation, saying she loved the idea, but later clarified she was talking about illegal immigrants.Asked how One Nation would enforce a policy of mass deportation in Australia, Joyce initially tries to sidestep the question.But when pressed on the question, the One Nation MP says he would put them on a plane and send them back to where they're from.Mon 20 Jul 2026 at 7:22amMon 20 Jul 2026 at 7:22amTanya Plibersek compares Pauline Hanson to a toddler following Seven interviewSocial Services Minister Tanya Plibersek has compared Pauline Hanson to a toddler following the One Nation leader's appearance on a Seven's Spotlight program last night.Hanson told Channel Seven in last night's program that she does not regret being interviewed by far-right UK figure and convicted criminal Tommy Robinson.In that podcast interview with Robinson, Hanson blamed the end of the White Australia policy for Australia's migration issues.Speaking to Channel Seven, Plibersek says it was clear from that program that Hanson backed mass deportations.The minister said it was also clear that Hanson said migration problems in Australia started after the White Australia policy ended.The social services minister says Hanson tries to portray herself as a friend of the "Aussie battler" despite her criticism of paid parental leave and accusing workers of being lazy."I think it's extraordinary that whenever she gets challenged on what she's actually said that we've all seen and we've all heard, she says no, no, never said it," Plibersek says."This is a woman who will say anything and then when it is challenged she wants to stick her head in the sand and pretend she never said it. It's like watching a toddler do something wrong in front of you and then turn around to you and say no, no, never did it. It wasn't me."Mon 20 Jul 2026 at 7:16amMon 20 Jul 2026 at 7:16amGood morning ⚽Hello and welcome to our federal politics live blog! It's great to have you join us on this World Cup final morning.I'm Josh Boscaini joining you live from Parliament House in Canberra, here and ready to bring you all of today's federal politics news.Pauline Hanson says she doesn't regret appearing on a podcast with UK far-right activist and convicted criminal Tommy Robinson.The One Nation leader appeared on Seven's Spotlight program last night, where said she loves the idea of mass deportations for illegal immigrants.In other news, government agencies will have to follow a framework to ensure decision-making is "fair and accurate" when using AI.We're likely to hear some reaction from that this morning so let's get right into the day and see what happens!