Barnaby Joyce defends Pauline Hanson over attack on PM's mother
One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce backed Pauline Hanson's attack on PM Albanese's mother. The attack focused on her long stay in public housing. Joyce called criticism of Hanson socialist.
Pauline Hanson sparked political outrage by calling PM Anthony Albanese pathetic. She attacked him for discussing his childhood in a Housing Commission home.
Hanson argued his mother should not have lived in the same property for 65 years. Albanese's mother, Maryanne, had rheumatoid arthritis from her 30s.
This made work difficult for her. The extended stay was granted on that basis until her death in 2002.
Barnaby Joyce defended Hanson on Monday. He said Albanese owns multiple houses and the story doesn't hold up.
He doubled down, saying government should not allow decades-long public housing tenancies. Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek hit back.
She noted Maryanne spent half her life in hospital. Her son was her carer.
She contrasted Albanese's upbringing with Joyce's boarding-school childhood. Joyce responded by calling her comments elitist and socialist.
- 65 years in same property
- Public housing tenure
- Rheumatoid arthritis from her 30s
- Medical cause
- Half her life
- Time in hospital
- Monday
- When attacked
Why it mattersThis clash shows how public housing policy splits the parliament. It highlights different views on who deserves long-term state support.
AustraliaAustralian voters are seeing fundamental disagreement between the government and One Nation over public housing eligibility and the prime minister's personal background.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 11 d ago
