Barnaby Joyce backflips on One Nation policy: ‘Not going to be kicking permanent residents out of their house’

Barnaby Joyce has corrected himself regarding a key One Nation housing policy after telling Sky News his party would force permanent residents to become citizens or risk having their home repossessed. The Sky News host Andrew Bolt, who interviewed Joyce on Thursday night, later told viewers the bungle demonstrated Pauline Hanson’s party was “literally making up policy as it goes along”. Hanson herself intervened on Friday morning by saying One Nation’s policy would allow permanent residents to own homes but force “foreign owners” like temporary visa holders to sell properties within two years. One Nation’s policy on “foreign ownership” on its website states: “We must stop the sale of property to non-residents and non-citizens.” On Sky on Thursday night, Bolt played a clip of Hanson telling the Senate in 2024: “We must stop foreign ownership of housing indefinitely. Give foreign owners two years to sell up so we don’t suddenly flood the market. If not sold, the property will be repossessed by the federal government.” In his pre-recorded interview, Bolt asked Joyce if the policy would require people who were permanent residents of Australia to sell their homes. Joyce at first did not answer directly, stating: “You have to be an Australian citizen if you want the benefits that are indelible about that.” Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email Bolt persisted, asking again: “Does it [house repossessions] apply to permanent residents as well?” Joyce responded: “Yes, it does. …