Pauline Hanson has launched an extraordinary attack on the late mother of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for living in public housing for decades.
Anthony Albanese grew up in social housing in Camperdown in Sydney‘s inner west, where his mother, Maryanne, lived on a disability pension because of chronic arthritis until her death from a brain aneurysm in 2002 at the age of 65.
He has spoken openly about how his mother spent long periods in hospital, claiming she was ‘left behind’ because of health funding cuts and fears their council house would be taken from her.
In resurfaced comments, earlier this year, Pauline Hanson launched a harsh critique of the Prime Minister’s remarks about his background, taking aim at his mother and the fact she lived for decades in housing commission accommodation.
‘Housing commission houses should not be there for people to live in them for 30, 40 (years) – and he said his mother lived in the same one she was born in for 65 years,’ she told The Karl Stefanovic Show.
‘Sorry, that is not on, to me. It should be limited time; you have been given a hand up, move it on to the next ones coming through.’
The One Nation leader, who feigned crying while mimicking Albanese’s statement that he grew up in council housing, then doubled down on her comments on Friday.
‘The Prime Minister complains about his housing commission upbringing,’ she told The Australian newspaper.
Pauline Hanson feigned crying while mimicking Anthony Albanese’s statement that he grew up in council housing during an appearance on The Karl Stefanovic Show
Anthony Albanese grew up in social housing in Camperdown in Sydney’s inner west, where his mother, Maryanne, lived on a disability pension because of chronic arthritis until her death
Hanson launched the critique of the Prime Minister’s remarks about his background in February, taking aim at the fact his mother lived for decades in a housing commission
‘How does he compare that to the Australians being forced to live in cars and tents because of his government’s high immigration numbers?’
During the interview, Hanson said she had grown up on a street with housing commission properties.
‘It was a helping hand to those people, but they had jobs. And they worked,’ she added.
Hanson’s comments sparked a furious response from Energy Minister Chris Bowen when he was asked about her Stefanovic appearance on Saturday.
‘Some things are off limits. Attacking a woman who’s been dead for more than 20 years for living in public housing is off limits,’ he said.
‘For God’s sake, there’s a line and Pauline Hanson regularly crosses the line. This is an outrageous attack on a woman who is not here to give her perspective.
‘The Prime Minister’s mum died more than 20 years ago, so keep the Prime Minister’s mum out of it. Keep families out of it.’
Bowen then claimed her comments about Albanese’s mother were indicative of her opinion on Australians living in public housing.
Hanson’s comments sparked a furious response from Minister for Energy Chris Bowen
‘Pauline Hanson pretends to be a friend of the battler, with all the battlers living in public housing around Australia,’ he said.
‘She’s just told you what she thinks of you, if you’ve been living in public housing for a long time. She thinks you shouldn’t be there.’
The Daily Mail has contacted the office of the Prime Minister for comment.
Albanese posted a tribute to his mother in 2021, referencing her struggles, including how rheumatoid arthritis crippled her joints and prevented her from working.
‘She lived on a disability pension… Life wasn’t easy and her health made things even harder – but we got through because of her,’ he said.
‘We lived in council housing, which gave us a sense of security and stability. It was our home. Truth is, mum was left behind – by people who counted her out and by governments who cut back support.
‘The cutbacks that happened in mum’s lifetime meant she had to justify the support she was receiving. When health funding was cut, the quality of mum’s care was cut too.
‘And when they tried to sell our council house, it felt like our home was being taken from us.’
Bowen said politicians’ families were ‘off limits’ during debate. Pictured, Anthony Albanese and his mum Maryanne Therese Albanese
Hanson’s comments about Albanese come after a media firestorm about her party’s criticism of Liberal frontbencher and former SAS member Andrew Hastie.
A satirical cartoon on Hanson’s social media account labelled Hastie a traitor several times, which he called a ‘massive slur’ on veterans across the country.
The tension between Hastie and Hanson stems from his testimony during the defamation trial of accused war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith, with whom Hastie served in the SAS.
Members of the Liberals, Labor and the Greens as well as independent politicians have spoken out against the cartoon, and Bowen took the opportunity to criticise One Nation further on Saturday.
‘Is there anyone Pauline Hanson won’t attack? She’s been attacking Andrew Hastie this week, who is a decorated war veteran,’ he said.
‘I have plenty of disagreements with Andrew Hastie, obviously, but I honour his service to our country. He should not be attacked in this way.’
The energy minister used his defence of Hastie to take aim at One Nation’s continued exclusion of some media, including the ABC.
‘Ultimately, Andrew Hastie showed the bravery to go to Afghanistan in a uniform,’ Bowen said.
‘Pauline Hanson doesn’t have the bravery to stand in front of a TV camera if an ABC journalist is present. So Pauline Hanson is not in any position to lecture anyone else about bravery or our country.’
– READ MORE: Furious Liberal Andrew Hastie declares war on Pauline Hanson as he claims he was called a traitor: ‘Lying cowards’
