Liberal senator, who has reiterated his support for Trump while on taxpayer-funded secondment to the UN, calls on government to ‘reconsider’ refugee intake

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Liberal senator Cory Bernardi has called for the government to halve the migration intake and reconsider the refugee intake or face the further rise of anti-establishment parties including One Nation.

Speaking from New York where he is on secondment to the United Nations, Bernardi reiterated his support for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, praising his populist anti-immigration policies.

Bernardi told Sky News he had warned of the rise of anti-establishment parties for years and said it was reflected in Australia by the rise of One Nation and, before that, the Palmer United party.

Australia could double annual migration by 2054 and boost economy – report Read more

“Pauline Hanson is speaking directly to many Coalition voters and drawing them away because she’s tackling the issues that many would suggest the Coalition should be dealing with.”

He predicted the sentiment would grow if the major parties “did not reflect the concerns individuals have”, citing migration.

“For all the palaver we’ve been told that a big migration program is good for our economic growth, the statistics, when you look at them on a per capita basis, do not support that,” he claimed.

“What we should be doing is halving our migration intake, making sure it is acting in Australia’s interests in the long term.”

A report by the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia, released on Thursday, found that doubling the migration intake would have significant economic benefits for average Australians.

The treasurer, Scott Morrison, has acknowledged concerns about immigration, but warned against cutting migration levels, describing population growth as a “prime driver” of economic growth.

In September, Morrison said the Productivity Commission has projected Australia’s GDP will be 58% higher by 2060 than it would with only natural increases in population.

Asked about the government’s proposed lifetime ban on refugees and asylum seekers in offshore detention ever travelling to Australia, Bernardi said he “fully supported” the decision and encouraged his party to “reconsider aspects of our humanitarian refugee intake”.

In October the Coalition and Labor moved a parliamentary motion denouncing “racial intolerance in any form” and reaffirming Australia’s commitment to a non-discriminatory immigration policy.

Turnbull and Shorten denounce ‘racial intolerance in any form’ in immigration policy Read more

It followed Hanson’s declaration in her first speech to the Senate in mid-September that Australia was in danger of being swamped by Muslims.

Bernardi predicted that Trump would win the popular vote, but said it “remains to be seen” if he will win the electoral college vote. Economic difficulties around the globe “give rise to strong leaders that promise to change the system”, he said.

The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, told 2SM Radio on Thursday he thought Clinton would win but he was not sure now polls had tightened. He suggested the FBI’s release of an email revealing it had found further emails relating to Clinton’s private server was not useful.

Bernardi said the election was “a referendum on Hillary Clinton” and that whatever flaws and failings Trump had, voters were “tired of the status quo”.

“For every flaw that Donald Trump’s got, I think you can magnify for Hillary by two.”



Bernardi said Trump was the only candidate discussing policy, nominating immigration, tax reform, term limits for politicians and “fixing Obamacare” as his strengths.

Bernardi claimed he was “not a cheerleader for Donald Trump”, and noted he had backed Ted Cruz to be the Republican nominee because he was a constitutional conservative.

“But when you compare the two candidates, I think Donald Trump has more opportunity and a better chance to fix what’s wrong with America, and the American political system than Hillary Clinton does.”

Bernardi said he believed “anyone other than Hillary Clinton would clean up in this contest”. If Bernie Sanders were the Democratic candidate he would’ve won because he promised change and a “policy mix that appealed to many people”.

Australian senators Cory Bernardi and Malcolm Roberts pledge support for Donald Trump Read more

The Labor leader in the Senate, Penny Wong, criticised Bernardi’s intervention, noting he was spruiking for Trump on a taxpayer-funded trip, and suggesting the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, was “too weak to control his [party’s] hard right”.

Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) Cory Bernardi using taxpayer-funded UN post to back Donald Trump? Malcolm too weak to control his hard right again? https://t.co/wsj0LUUYCS

Responding to Bernardi, the shadow finance minister, Jim Chalmers, said he had “made a career dividing people in Australia [so] I’m not surprised to see he’s enjoying the circus that’s going on in that American presidential election”.

Chalmers said Australia would work with whoever wins but Labor was concerned about Trump’s views on women and minorities.

“What the markets are reacting to is the incoherence of his policies on America’s place in the world and his economic policies,” he said.