Andrew Hastie rallies the right-wing on immigration levels at conservative conference in Perth

Federal Liberal MP Andrew Hastie has doubled down on his attacks on Federal immigration policy, saying many Australians are “angry” with the rate of migration, leading to a rise in One Nation support.

Speaking at a Conservative Political Action Conference in Perth on Friday night — also attended by WA Liberal leader Basil Zempilas, his colleague Nick Goiran and Warren Mundine — Mr Hastie said the rise of One Nation in Australia was because people had lost faith in the Labor and Liberal parties.

“The system is not working for Australians, and they are blaming the uni-party — the Liberals and Labor,” Mr Hastie said.

“That’s why One Nation, the Teals and the Greens have risen in prominence; they have acknowledged that the system is broken, that it no longer supports the aspirations of mainstream Australians.

“I think it’s time that we did the same thing; that we acknowledged that we got it wrong, that the system needs a massive overhaul.”

Mr Hastie, who just a few weeks ago unsuccessfully lobbied colleagues to become Liberal leader before Angus Taylor successfully challenged Sussan Ley for the leadership, has long been a strong advocate for stricter immigration rules.

Polling shows support for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation is surging, with the controversial Senator calling on the Federal Government to cut immigration by hundreds of thousands.

Ms Hanson has blamed immigration for house prices going through the roof.

“Population growth is up by 1.9 million people over the last four years, despite Australia having the lowest fertility rate in its history,” Mr Hastie said.

“Immigration is the main source of that population growth, and many Australians are angry with the rate of migration and the low standards that the government has allowed for entry into our shared civic life.

“It’s true, immigration numbers are too high, while the standards are too low. Our infrastructure has not kept pace with population growth.

“People see this growth pressure on the roads, in our hospitals, and in our essential services, and it’s also fuelling our domestic inflation, which remains at 4.9 per cent. That’s why people are angry.”

Inflation is at 3.8 per cent nationally and 4.9 per cent in Perth.

Mr Zempilas, who is trying to raise the WA Liberals from the dead after horrible State election defeats since 2017, told conservatives a lack of housing — and opportunity to get into the housing market — was a key issue in WA.

“The great Australian dream of home ownership is rapidly fading for young Australians,” he said.

“And when that happens, you don’t just break the housing market, you break trust.”

Mr Zempilas said Liberals would focus on housing supply leading to the next election.

“Government should stop being the barrier between hardworking people and a home,” he said.

“That means focusing on supply — not slogans. It means infrastructure that keeps pace with growth — so new suburbs are liveable, not stranded.”

Mr Zempilas called for more land to be freed up and to back construction workers.

“Without those people, there is no housing plan — there is only a press release.”