Pauline Hanson has repeated her criticism of Anthony Albanese's late mother for living in public housing for decades, reigniting a row over the Prime Minister's account of his upbringing. Albanese has often spoken about growing up in social housing in Camperdown, Sydney, where his mother Maryanne lived on a disability pension due to chronic arthritis until her death in 2002, saying she was "left behind" by cuts to health funding. Hanson's renewed remarks drew a sharp rebuke from Energy Minister Chris Bowen, who called attacking a woman who has been dead for more than 20 years "off limits" and accused the One Nation leader of revealing contempt for long-term public housing residents.

Hanson first raised the issue in February, telling The Karl Stefanovic Show that housing commission properties should not be occupied for "30, 40 years" and mimicking Albanese's account of his upbringing while feigning tears. On Friday she doubled down in comments to The Australian, questioning how Albanese's background compared with Australians "forced to live in cars and tents" amid high immigration, while insisting public housing should be a temporary "helping hand" for those in work. Bowen countered that Hanson's comments showed she believed long-term public housing tenants "shouldn't be there," despite her claiming to champion battlers. The Prime Minister's office had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.