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

Barnaby Joyce said One Nation’s housing policy ‘obviously applies to people who are foreign citizens who are basically not permanent residents’. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP View image in fullscreen Barnaby Joyce said One Nation’s housing policy ‘obviously applies to people who are foreign citizens who are basically not permanent residents’. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP Barnaby Joyce backflips on One Nation policy: ‘Not going to be kicking permanent residents out of their house’ Sky News host Andrew Bolt says MP ‘had no idea what Pauline Hanson’s policy was’ after politician said permanent residents could have homes ‘repossessed’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast 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. That’s my belief in the policy. We want to make sure that you become a permanent resident … sorry, excuse me, become an Australian citizen. And that’s going to deal with the issue, isn’t it? Become an Australian citizen.” After playing the pre-recorded interview, Bolt told viewers that after the recording, “something extraordinary happened”. He said Joyce had called “two people back at the office” to discuss One Nation’s housing policy. “He must have figured, well, you know, he actually had no idea what Pauline Hanson’s policy in foreign ownership of homes really was, and must have realised this was going a bit harsh,” Bolt said. “So, with our cameras still on him, he rang two people back at the office.” He said Joyce had received two diffe