Political Backlash Grows Over Hanson’s Comments on PM’s Mother Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hit back at One Nation leader Pauline Hanson after she criticized his late mother for living in public housing for 65 years. The remarks, originally made during a January podcast interview, resurfaced this weekend, sparking widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum.

The Controversy

In the resurfaced comments, Senator Hanson argued that social housing should be a temporary "hand up" rather than a long-term residence, citing the Prime Minister’s mother, Mary Albanese, as an example of someone who stayed in the same home for decades. The Prime Minister responded on Sunday, expressing he was "stunned" by the attack on his mother, who passed away in 2002. Mr. Albanese defended his mother’s character, noting she suffered from severe rheumatoid arthritis and lived a life of hardship. "My mother was way out of Pauline Hanson’s league," the Prime Minister said, describing her as a "battler" who worked as a cleaner while raising him.

Calls for Apology

The comments have drawn sharp rebukes from both sides of the aisle. Trade Minister Don Farrell labeled the remarks "appalling" and called for an apology, stating that attacking the Prime Minister’s mother is not a path to parliamentary respect. Liberal MP Andrew Hastie also joined the criticism, telling News24 that Senator Hanson should "leave mums out of it." Mr. Hastie further questioned Senator Hanson’s fitness for leadership, citing both her comments on the Prime Minister’s mother and a separate controversy involving a One Nation cartoon that labeled him a "traitor." Despite the pressure, One Nation’s Barnaby Joyce refused to call for an apology during a *Sunrise* interview on Monday. Mr. Joyce maintained that Senator Hanson’s original comments were directed at public housing policy rather than the personal character of Mary Albanese.