One Nation senator Peter Georgiou has distanced himself from the party’s central policy of banning Muslim migration to Australia.
Senator Georgiou, who recently replaced disqualified senator Rod Culleton, told the ABC Muslims should be able to settle in Australia like everyone else.
That is a contradiction of One Nation’s policy of “stopping further Muslim immigration and the intake of Muslim refugees until we can assure the safety of Australians”.
Senator Georgiou, who is the son of Greek migrants, said he had discussed his views on the immigration ban with his party.
“If people want to come and embrace Australia and embrace the culture like my parents did and learn the language and integrate with the community, then I can’t see it being an issue,” he said.
“If they’re Muslim and they’ve passed the checks the Australian Government has on them then I don’t see it as an issue.
“That is different to my party’s policy ... everyone thinks differently of the party’s policy.”
Senator Georgiou said he had not been instructed to blindly follow party policy, but instead focus on West Australian issues.
“It’s not about toeing the party line; it’s actually about finding out how it’s going to affect the people of Western Australia and whether they will support it,” he told the ABC.
Senator Georgiou said he had “brainstormed a few ideas around the table” about the Muslim migration ban.
“At the moment, it’s like anything that needs to be discussed,” he said.
“Slowly, slowly we will get there. Everything is up for discussion.”