Protest led by Pauline Hanson calls for end to mass immigration

A protest in Canberra has called for an end to mass immigration to Australia.

Hundreds gathered on the lawn of Parliament today, draped in the Australian flag, as One Nation leader Pauline Hanson was welcomed by a rock star.

“Politicians, you might get some of us over here, but where are the rest of the bastards, why aren’t they here?” she said.

Nearby, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor was telling the ABC Insiders: “Migration rates have been too high. They have been higher than Labour’s own targets.”

Taylor said the coalition would give preference to migrants from liberal democracies but would not exclude others

“Many good people come from bad countries, but there is a greater risk of bad people coming from those bad countries,” he said.

Nationals leader Matt Canavan also addressed the protest on the lawn of Parliament, saying: “You don’t share our values? You’re going to be deported. You’re going back abroad.”

Organizers say more of these rallies will take place across the country in the coming months.

In the meantime, it is a smaller group of Australian citizens who are causing the government headaches.

Minister Chris Bowen said the government is offering them “absolutely no help”.

“That is not something this government will do,” he said.

The group, made up of women and children, are Australian citizens and will likely face domestic charges when they return home.

Health Minister Mark Butler told Sky News: “If they manage to reach the Australian border and have committed any crime, they will face the full force of the law at those borders.”