What Happened
Federal member for Farrer David Farley has complicated One Nation’s migration narrative by suggesting the party’s practical intake could reach approximately 230,000 people annually. This figure emerges from separating a “true” net overseas migration (NOM) target of 130,000 from essential worker programs deemed necessary to address critical labour shortages.
The comments, made during an appearance on ABC’s Insiders on Sunday morning, 23 August 2026, indicate that while the party officially seeks a NOM figure of roughly 130,000, Australia would still require at least another 100,000 workers through specific visa categories. Farley argued that industries, particularly in regional areas, rely heavily on these additional arrivals, meaning the total number of people entering the country under his described arrangements would sit significantly higher than the headline policy target.
The Timeline
The debate intensified after Farrer MP David Farley, who won One Nation’s first lower house seat in the May by-election with a 32.9 percent swing, told ABC Insiders that his party had decided to distinguish between core NOM figures and other migrant categories.
Farley stated that “at a minimum” there would be 100,000 extra migrants on top of the 130,000 target, describing the latter as the “true NOM”. This distinction contradicts earlier messaging where Farley claimed the 130,000 figure excluded people brought in under Pacific schemes and aged-care nurse programs.
In response to the confusion, Pauline Hanson moved to clarify the party’s position, maintaining that One Nation remains committed to reducing net overseas migration to 130,000 a year. The party stated it intends to achieve this through reductions in international student numbers and dependants while maintaining access to workers considered essential to the economy.
Who Said What
Energy Minister Chris Bowen accused Farley of being at odds with Hanson, noting that she recently declared she does not care if migration cuts affect Australian businesses. Bowen told reporters his “overwhelming conclusion” was that Farley is comfortable with what the government is doing.
Opposition immigration spokesman Jonno Duniam argued that voters were owed a clear explanation of the party’s policy, stating that such decisions have real consequences for housing, infrastructure, essential services, wages, jobs and the economy.
Farley explained his position by saying, “What we’re doing is we’re focusing on the NOM in its true form, and then we’ve got these programs that have been available now for over a decade that drive our economy.” He pointed to workers employed through Pacific labour programs as well as skilled migrants required in sectors facing serious shortages.
Why This Matters
The distinction is critical because net overseas migration is not simply a count of every person who enters Australia. Australia’s official measure is based largely on how long a person remains in or outside the country, meaning some temporary visa holders can ultimately be counted depending on their length of stay.
If the practical number under Farley’s arrangements were around 230,000, it would sit extremely close to Labor’s projected level of 225,000. This admission drew immediate attention because reducing migration has been one of One Nation’s most prominent political messages.
For voters, the political question is much simpler: if One Nation promotes a target of 130,000 but allows substantial numbers of additional overseas workers through other programs, what is the total impact on population growth? The confusion comes as Hanson declared she would take her racial discrimination challenge with Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi to the High Court.
Net overseas migration dropped to 306,000 in 2024-25, brought down from a post-pandemic peak of 538,000 under Liberal-National government policy. However, if One Nation’s practical intake aligns with Labor’s projections, it suggests the gap between the two parties may be substantially smaller than their political messaging suggests.
It does not necessarily mean One Nation has formally changed its official 130,000 NOM policy. Rather, it exposes a dispute over which overseas arrivals should be included when politicians talk publicly about migration levels. The party says it intends to achieve that figure through reductions in areas including international student numbers and dependants, while maintaining access to workers considered essential to the Australian economy.
One Nation member for Farrer, David Farley, has said the party’s immigration target would actually be 100,000 more than initially suggested. He said the Coalition would go to the next election with a net overseas migration target “substantially below” 200,000.
Asked if racial discrimination laws should be changed, Farley said he wasn’t convinced they should. This adds another layer of complexity to a party already navigating internal disagreements over its core policy positions.