Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen didn’t mince words when asked about Pauline Hanson’s latest policy idea.

The One Nation leader is calling for the government to immediately block migration from countries on the Department of Foreign Affairs’ “do not travel” list.

Their citizens represent a security risk, she said on Saturday.

“If the government warns Australians not to go to a country because of extreme security and terrorism risks, the government should not continue accepting ordinary migration from that country on a business-as-usual basis,” Senator Hanson said.

Countries that carry “do not travel advisories” from DFAT include Libya, Iran, Ukraine, Lebanon, Russia and Iraq.

Under the proposal, Australia would pause accepting newcomers from all countries where the label applied.

Applications from countries where it applied in substantial part would face further scrutiny.

“The government cannot issue its highest security warning for an entire country about terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary detention, armed conflict and collapsed authority, then pretend those same conditions are irrelevant to migration,” Senator Hanson said.

Asked about the idea in Sydney on Saturday, Mr Bowen was quick both to dismiss and compare it to something US President Donald Trump would enact.

“Australia needs an Australian immigration policy, not one stolen from Donald Trump,” he said.

“Some of the countries on that list have provided Australia with wonderful migrants ... Iraq, Lebanon, countries like Afghanistan.

“People who have fled ISIS, who have come to Australia for refuge and knowing they’ve received refuge, have started small businesses, contributed to our community”.

Senator Hanson included applicants both for refugee status and humanitarian visas, so there could be no “loophole”.

Mr Bowen called on her to explain to those who would be impacted, such as Assyrians and Yazidis who had fled ISIS as well as members of Australia’s Lebanese community, “why she doesn’t want them in Australia”.

“We need better than just carbon-copying Donald Trump’s policy,” he said.

“She’s wrong, wrong, wrong.”

Some 26 countries have been assigned “do not travel” advisories by DFAT, based on factors such as ongoing military conflicts, the risk of arbitrary detention and the threat of terrorism.

Many are also included in Mr Trump’s travel ban, under which the US president has indefinitely frozen visa processing for people from 75 countries.

The crackdown, enacted in January, came after his administration implemented full or partial restrictions on travellers from 38 countries in 2025.

The White House argued the ban was designed to bring “an end to the abuse” of the US immigration system.

It was implemented in conjunction with an increase in funding for and rapid expansion of immigration enforcement, and an escalation in detention and deportation efforts.