Pauline Hanson has stood firmly behind One Nation MP Jason Virgo, who broke down in tears during his maiden speech in South Australia's parliament, expressing his love for migrants and his Muslim boyfriend.
Virgo's Emotional Address
Jason Virgo, who secured the seat of MacKillop in the South Australian House of Assembly, fought back tears as he spoke about his immigrant partner. He insisted that 'two things can be true at once,' acknowledging both his affection for migrants and his belief that migration levels have been excessive in recent years.
'I love migrants. The overwhelming majority are simply searching for a better life. But two things can be true at once, and I do believe migration levels in recent years have been too high,' he said.
Virgo highlighted regional disparities, noting that while some employers need workers, other communities face housing shortages. 'In some places, both are true. After years of policy failure, too many Australians are homeless — that reality has weakened public confidence in our migration system,' he added.
Hanson's Support
In response to the speech, Ms Hanson said Mr Virgo was 'very much in love with his partner and so be it,' emphasizing that his personal faith 'does not matter.' Speaking on Sky News Sunday Agenda, she said: 'Whether he's Muslim, whether he's Hindu, it doesn't matter. The fact is that let's get back to the basics.'
She drew a distinction between Virgo's partner and radical elements: 'When you have imams and you have these ones who are pushing hatred and spewing hatred in our mosque and on our streets, that's a hell of a difference. So let's deal with the real facts here.'
Migration Policy Stance
Ms Hanson noted 'a lot of unrest' in Australia, mirroring trends in the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. When asked about banning Muslim migration, she said she would consider halting arrivals from 'certain countries.'
'If you've got people coming from these countries that are radical Islamists and their ideology is not compatible with our country, yes I do,' she said. 'There are certain countries I probably would ban from coming into Australia … I'll be open and honest with the people, I do want to ban the burka because it's incompatible with our culture and our way of life.'
The electorate of MacKillop was previously the Liberal Party's safest seat in South Australia, but Virgo's victory signals a shift in regional representation.
