Hanson Eyes Trump-Style Mass Deportations for Australia

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has flagged plans to adopt a Donald Trump-style mass deportation policy, warning the estimated 77,000 people living illegally in Australia to leave voluntarily or face forced removal.

Speaking at a West Australian Leadership Matters breakfast following a two-week overseas trip to the United Kingdom and Italy, Hanson drew direct parallels with the United States president's hardline immigration crackdown.

"Trump said, 'All those that are in the country illegally, I'll actually give you a one-way ticket out of the country,'" Hanson told the audience, indicating she would pursue a similar approach in Australia.

When pressed on how such a scheme would be administered, Hanson suggested her office would work alongside relevant government departments to identify those unlawfully present. She stopped short of detailing specific enforcement mechanisms beyond the broad framework.

The senator also sparked controversy when she said she would move to ban migrants from what she described as "radical Islamic countries", citing Somalia, Sudan and Pakistan as examples. When West Australian editor Chris Dore suggested the proposal amounted to a version of the White Australia policy, Hanson pushed back sharply.

"No, it's not. So don't go there with me — I won't stand for it," she replied, drawing a standing ovation from One Nation supporters in the room.

Hanson said her overseas travels had reinforced her concerns about the consequences of poor governance, and announced she would embark on an extended national listening tour in the weeks ahead. The tour, she said, would take her to pubs, businesses, kitchen tables and fish and chip shops around the country, with one central question for everyday Australians: "What's holding you back?"

She indicated the responses would directly inform One Nation's policy platform ahead of the next federal election — and did not rule out a tilt at the country's top job.

"If I was ever in that position — which could happen at the next election — to take on the position of being Prime Minister of this country, I could do it," Hanson said, though she added she would welcome any candidate she considered more capable.

She was particularly cutting about the current government, describing it as "the worst government" under "the worst Prime Minister."

The day's media attention was briefly diverted by a separate incident involving Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce, who was caught on camera barking "Sit down!" at his dog during a live interview on ABC's 7.30 program. When asked whether the moment appeared erratic, Hanson came to his defence. "I don't know what sort of day he had — by the way, he told the dog, so what is your problem with that?" she said.