Anthony Albanese Defends Late Mother After Pauline Hanson's Housing Comments

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivered an emotional defense of his late mother, Maryanne Ellery, after comments by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson resurfaced. In interviews and a podcast with Karl Stefanovic, Hanson criticized Ellery for living in public housing for 65 years, arguing that social housing should be a "limited time" hand up rather than a lifelong residence.

Speaking at Kirribilli House, Albanese described the remarks as "nastiness and spitefulness." He defended his mother as a "battler" who worked overnight cleaning offices while suffering from chronic rheumatoid arthritis, stating that she was "way out of Pauline Hanson's league." Albanese, who described himself as a "proud houso," rejected Hanson's claims that he complains about his upbringing.

The comments drew condemnation across the political spectrum. Trade Minister Don Farrell called the remarks "appalling" and demanded an apology, while Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie labeled Hanson a "lying coward" and unfit for the premiership. This tension coincided with a separate dispute in which One Nation released a cartoon branding Hastie a "traitor" for testifying in the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation trial.

One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce defended Hanson's policy stance on public housing, though he noted she may have lacked specific details regarding Ellery's health. Meanwhile, United Australia Party Senator Ralph Babet advised Hanson against apologizing to the "woke mob."