Is this a deliberate attempt to sabotage One Nation? Is the PM running scared and denying you what is rightfully yours?

Well, if you remember rightly, we had to fight the PM for adequate security for Pauline Hanson as well.

That only came to fruition after that press club incident that occurred some months ago.

And finally, we got some traction to get security for Pauline Hanson.

The next step now is to try and secure adequate staffing, because I don't think four advisers is adequate for a party that's piling neck and neck, and in some cases in front of Labor, especially when the Prime Minister is adequately staffed with hundreds of personal staff amongst his own team and that of his other ministers and backbenchers as well.

Look, this is Albanese playing the man, not the ball.

And this is typical of him.

Do you ever chuckle privately when people make fun of One Nation being apparently a bit confused over immigration, when the government, with all of their staffers and all of their advisers, still can't give us their position on this important issue? And as I mean, they're the government.

So, James, I watched that this morning and it sounds like immigration numbers would be at least as high under One Nation, if not slightly higher than under Labor.

Well, I can assure you, James, and I can assure every viewer out there across this country, that is not the plan of One Nation.

The net overseas migration number is at 130,000 people.

And, look, David's very good in the field of agriculture and water.

He was lured onto the ABC, and I say that, he fell for the ABC trick of going on to talk about agriculture and ended up talking about immigration, where, look, for a new Member of Parliament, it's always difficult getting your head around those NOM numbers.

And for anyone at home, the net overseas migration is a metric that is measured by people coming into the country that stay for 12 months out of a 16-month period.

And so we're saying anyone that comes here for that length of time, we are going to limit to 130,000.

Do you have a question whether or not David Farley was the right person to put up as Pauline Hanson's representative in the parliament?

Yeah

... that the only pathway to victory is to actually go after the real enemy, and that's Labor.

Uh, so I take my hat off to Matt.

I don't think Angus yet has got that message.

Uh, but I think there's a lot of people within the business community and within the Liberal ranks that are saying, "Enough's enough.

Uh, the true enemy here is Labor." And the way that Angus has been sort of approaching this, along with Jane Hume, his, uh, deputy, has been wrong.

And I would simply say to him, "Look, let's work together because, um, uh, for the greater good of the country." I don't think there's, uh, uh, following 2028, if Labor get a third term, this country will never ever, ever see prosperity while I'm alive.

Mm

It's, it's making it even difficult in the regional parts of the country as well because-

because-Yeah, there are people in the cities that are saying, "Well, look, let's take those high property prices now.

Let's get out.

Let's have a tree change," especially after COVID.

They're buying in more regional towns, which is also putting pressure on those people who have previously only been able to afford to live in regions.

And so it's squeezing them out of the market as, as well.

So this is why we've got huge homeless numbers.

But James, how long can you keep trading just on, on Pauline's personal popularity and the position on immigration before you get to the point where you, you need to present firm detailed policy to the public?

Pretty clear, though, that supporters of One Nation are unhappy with the number of people coming to this country because when you look at policy, really the only policy area they nominate is immigration.

I don't think most Australians have a problem with migration, but it's the volume of migrants that we're getting.

We know that the volumes under Labor have just been excessive and it's choking up cities.

It's making it even difficult in the regional parts of the country as well because there are people in the cities that are saying, well, look, let's take those high property prices now.

Let's get out.

Let's have a tree change, especially after COVID.

They're buying in more regional towns, which is also putting pressure on those people who have previously only been able to afford to live in regions.

But James, how long can you keep trading just on Pauline's personal popularity and the position on immigration before you get to the point where you need to present firm, detailed policy to the public?

Is that a reasonable explanation?

No, it's far from it.

That was just vile content.

It was almost something that I would class as terrorising to any individual.

It doesn't matter whether it's the richest person in this country or someone like yourself who just presents a standard show on another network.

The reality is it wasn't funny.

It went for four minutes.

There's something really wrong with the left.

How did the Tommy Robinson thing happen? Who invited who? Who knew what and who? Who set up what?

There was no indication that we'd be doing an interview with Tommy Robinson.

I could send you the itinerary for the trip.

It didn't include Tommy.

When Nigel Farage stepped down, there was a moment there where the producer, Luke Mortimer, was quite concerned that the whole trip was wasted because Nigel obviously stepped back into campaign mode and cancelled his meeting.

And so there was this opportunity to fill void and that's where, obviously, Rupert Logue came in and then the suggestion came from Channel 7, who I had given the contact of Tommy Robinson to.

They lined it all up.

So when we talk about immigration, when we talk about monoculture, when there's the conversation and the very attempts to spin what you are talking about, do you feel that the party gets on to sticky paper or is it solid ground because the polls constantly have told us what Australians think about all of these issues and how deeply they value their own culture?

And that in part, it's not the totality of the problem, but in part, people just want someone to be fair dinkum and she appears to be the most fair dinkum of the lot.

well, you're not going to get Polly Waffle from One Nation.

And if you do, slap us around, because that's not what we want either.

Pauline's made it very clear she wants people that are real people with great experience in the real world, because the ones we've got at the moment, they've either been brought up through the political system, never had a real job in their life, Or the Liberal Party just seem to have grown up in this upper class, upper echelon where they don't listen to the people in the real world either.

So that's the challenge that we've seen at both levels.

But I'm tired of politicians trying to buy people's votes.

At the moment, we sit on a real critical point where...

How do you fix that?

If we're going to set things right, do you see that as growing our wealth rather than cutting our spending? Can you do both because of that addiction to free stuff? That's a tough one, isn't it?

Luke, you and I have both had credit cards.

I don't have one today.

But I know it feels good when you're spending money, but when you reach your limit and you've got no more to spend and you know you've got to pay it back, boy, that hurts.

And that's where we're headed as a country.

If it feels bad when you've got to pay back a $20,000 credit card and you're already at your limit as a household and you're saying to yourself, how the hell am I going to pay this back at high interest rates? Mate, we've had low interest rates for a very long time, but those times have changed and we are now paying over $50 billion a year, over $1 billion a week.

interest rates as a country.

How do you fix that?

Mm.

Went to the birthday party.

You know, so look, I don't wanna play on these things, but, y- you know, both Labor, the Coalition, have been taking money from billionaires.

And I might just add, too, Albo's been giving billionaires more billions with these hydrogen schemes, and I'm talking about Andrew Forrest here.

And then he's also been giving Andrew copious amounts of money as well for those wind turbine projects that have been going across the country on prime agricultural land.

The Prime Minister doesn't wanna listen to what farmers have to say.

He's listening to billionaires who wanna take the cash from taxpayers.

Uh, wh- why are we even debating this, James? I mean, if Pauline Hanson needs extra security, given the world we live in at the moment, doesn't it just need to happen?

Look,

Albo, this is about the pot calling the kettle black.

Albo's been... taking donations from billionaires for many years now and look one one thing i didn't realize until recently is there's been a couple of billionaires that have been buying labor party members suits as well mark it's not just the donations they buy them suits to wear as well So Anthony Pratt's been one of the biggest donors over recent years.

We know Anthony's the cardboard king and he's got Visi and good luck to him.

If that's who he wants to support, that's the beauty about Australia.

We don't hold these things against billionaires.

If they want to give to Labor, good on them.

Why are we even debating this, James? I mean, if Pauline Hanson needs extra security, given the world we live in at the moment, doesn't it just need to happen?

So I actually reckon that the numbers you're seeing in both these polls underestimate the truth.

I think you're probably only there.

There's certainly areas around this country, more regional areas that obviously One Nation appeals to more broadly.

But I think the city's starting to change as well because people are feeling the pain and the pressure.

And they're saying to themselves, there's got to be a better alternative because the last couple of elections we've had, whether it to get the same thing.

Greater debt, greater pressures, more regulation, bigger business failings, and the job losses that we're experiencing at the moment doesn't give people the confidence to trust either of these two previous major parties.

To think now that we are in a more winnable position than the coalition tells you a great deal about the sentiment across this country right

Now, the fund, the Fire the Liar Fund Fighting Fund, what's it up to now?

now very very true now the fund the fire the liar fun fighting fund what's it up to now

Well, I jumped off the plane only 30 minutes ago and it just ticked over 4 million.

That's enormous.

Especially when we set out, Chris, to only raise a million.

But I think what's become pretty obvious, not just to us, but also to many people across this country, if you're going to have an impact at this next election, you need a lot of money to go up against Labor because they typically spend somewhere in the vicinity of $20 million to $40 million on an election campaign, which is quite literally built on lies, as we've seen during the terms of government that this Albanese Prime Minister has told us.

So I think I've really got to reshape the way we look at this campaign as well.

It's been very good, obviously, to raise $4 million.

That's a huge job too, right?

How's that looking this morning?

About 3.5 million, I think we're getting close to at the moment, Luke.

It's very good.

And, you know, I've got to say, 2GB, Ben Fordham and the entire listening audience of your radio station have just been marvellous.

I think they've had a gutful of this Labor government, particularly...

this prime minister who has lied his way through two terms now.

You've got to remember, Luke, this is a bloke that couldn't even get 33% of the primary vote at this last election.

It must be ridiculously busy and mad, is it, at times?

How's that looking this morning?

About $3.5 million, I think we're getting close to at the moment, Luke.

It's very good.

And, you know, I've got to say, 2GB, Ben Fordham and the entire listening audience of your radio station have just been marvellous.

I think they've had a gutful of this Labor government, particularly...

this Prime Minister, who has lied his way through two terms now.

You've got to remember, Luke, this is a bloke that couldn't even get 33% of the primary vote at this last election, and yet he is the Prime Minister of this country, one nation.

yeah gee mate you're busy i mean compared to where you were maybe a year ago uh how are you all coping i imagine i think i heard you say somewhere else might have even been to ben about the communication you're having to deal with and you've been done no favors by the government in terms of staffing it must be uh ridiculously busy and mad, is it at times?

Well, I was going to ask, is any of it going to be spent in the state campaign? Because that's particularly of interest to me here in Victoria.

Look, it wasn't the objective, but look, if the Victorian states branch of One Nation turn around and say, look, you won't need your funds until 2028.

Can we have a loan? I wouldn't be adverse to providing that loan to them because you're right, Jacinda Allen's got to go just as much as Anthony Albanese.

Labor have proven now that in states like Victoria, where they've held the reins for how many years now? Far too long.

It's been a debt that's been racked up.

People aren't happy.

You've got businesses that are going out of business and taxes that are just accruing and people are just finding they can't survive.

How many, I think there was a number around yesterday, was it from you, 28,000 people? Has it been more than that now, donating?

Well, I was going to ask, is any of it going to be spent in the state campaign? Because that's particularly of interest to me here in Victoria.

Look, it wasn't the objective, but look, if the Victorian state... branch of One Nation turn around and say, look, you won't need your funds until 2028.

Can we have a loan? I wouldn't be adverse to providing that loan to them because you're right, Jacinta Allen's got to go just as much as Anthony Albanese.

Labor have proven now.

that in states like Victoria, where they've held the reins for how many years now? Far too long.

It's been a debt that's been racked up.

People aren't happy.

How many, I think there was a number around yesterday, was it from you, 28,000 people? Has it been more than that now, donating?

James, good morning.

Well, it is a good morning, Ben.

Almost $1.7 million this morning, and it continues to climb.

Can you believe it? No.

I will be honest.

I set this goal for the end of financial year because people can get that tax deductibility status when they actually give a donation up to $15,000.

I thought that might prompt a few people, but not the 28,000 people that have made a contribution to this campaign.

I mean, I know that political fundraisers are nothing new, but I haven't seen a grassroots campaign like this raise a million dollars in under 24 hours before.

Can you believe it?

No. [laughs] I will be honest, I set this goal for the end of financial year because people can get that tax deductibility status when they actually give a donation up to $1,500.

I thought that might prompt a few people, but not the 28,000 people that have made a contribution to this campaign.

And I might just add, uh, this morning at 11:00, Ben, the first of the campaign rolls out.

We've got trucks with digital billboards across Melbourne and in Anthony Albanese and Chris Bowen's seats.

They'll be stuck in those seats for the whole week.

I mean, I know that political fundraisers are nothing new, but I haven't seen a grassroots campaign like this raise a million dollars in under 24 hours before.

No, I think it will go down in history.

What's your response to this? Are you going to target Labor seats?

Oh, 100%.

This is a small kitty that will go towards a very big campaign, we hope, in 2028.

Unless Albanese gets chicken and goes early, he could do that.

But the thing that we're looking at is trying to wipe out Labor.

This is the most treacherous government that we've ever seen, certainly in my lifetime.

I'm 47.

We've heard the views of others like Barnaby Joyce, but why do you think there's this sudden groundswell of support for Pauline?

It's up above $100,000.

I just checked to refresh myself then and it's $121,000 and that's two hours and we've not had to spend any money on boosting this on any of the social media platforms yet.

Thanks to you guys at 2GB, it has helped push it along.

I think Sky News have done the same thing.

Seven's running it this morning as well and It just goes to show how many people are disappointed in the Prime Minister's budget.

They're disappointed because he lied.

And it's not the first lie either.

So ultimately, I know that you're separate parties and they're political rivals, but the common enemy here is Anthony Albanese, right?

It's up above $100,000.

I just checked to refresh myself then, and it's 121,000, and that's two hours, and we've not had to spend any money on boosting this on any of the social media platforms yet.

Uh, [laughs] thanks to you guys at 2GB, it has helped push it along.

I think Sky News have done the same thing.

Seven's running it this morning as well, and it just goes to show how many people are disappointed in the Prime Minister's budget.

They're disappointed because he lied, and he's...

It's not the first lie either.

Now, on another topic, just yesterday, both Angus Taylor and Tony Abbott, both Liberal Party figures, have come out and said, "We must do a preference deal with One Nation." So ultimately, I know that you're separate parties and they're political rivals, but the common enemy here is Anthony Albanese, right?

How does it feel to be number one at the moment?

Oh, look, Paul, those figures are good, but what it tells me is that we can't do this alone, and that other like-minded conservative parties have gotta join us and say that we'll do this together.

Because otherwise, we're stuck with Labor for another three years off the back of what will be a dreadful six.

And no one can stand a, a decade of Albanese.

Uh, no one can stand, uh, another three years of, uh, broken promises, uh, higher taxes, and, uh, lower social standards, 'cause that's the direction we're heading now.

So, uh, look, I say it's all very encouraging, but for me to get my hopes up to form government, um, as I've said for a long time, you've, you've gotta get above that 40% to be in the, in the box seat.

So we're far way off that, and we do need the help of other like-minded conservatives.

So again, I cannot, will not, and never will argue against minimum wage rises, but there's got to be some sort of a, a, a, of not an extra tax on being the employer so that person has any money that they're earning.

Your response to this?

Well, the, the gentleman who made these accusations, David Goodridge, um, I, I, I would have to say he's embellished that quite a lot.

Mark, as you know, the industrial relations legislation is that terrible.

Businesses have to put up with this every single day, and we as a parliamentary office are no different.

So when somebody comes to me with an allegation, uh, that someone smacked their kids too hard, and that's what the allegation was, brought a photo to me with a, a hand mark or a thong mark or something on, on, on a child, I just simply said, "This is a police matter.

You've gotta take this matter to police." And it's not for me to play, you know, judge, jury, and executioner within a workplace.

God forbid if I did, I would've ended up before the Fair Work Commission and would've lost, because that's not my place as a chief of staff.

Do you see the coalition as the enemy, or do you see the, uh, the Labor government as the enemy here?

Again, James, what's your advice to those small business people who might've got a good hit in, uh, the past couple of days with a meme, but how to keep it going?

Well, look, for this, uh, we've gotta focus on the fact that it's a lie.

And it, and this doesn't just affect young people in business.

This affects every Australian.

It's been lie after lie.

We were lied to about the electricity prices that were supposed to come down.

They didn't.

But just on this fundamental idea, um, did you have conversations with people over the weekend who were shocked that this is the current system? [laughs] That people who are not citizens are still able to basically get the advantages that citizens get in terms of what you can get from the government in that triangle of dependence?