Pauline Hanson demands Australia strengthen its borders now or risk migrant chaos after 50,000 'illegals' barged into Spain: 'Be prepared'

By NICHOLAS COMINO, POLITICAL REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 01:08, 3 August 2026 | Updated: 01:08, 3 August 2026 One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has demanded Australia strengthen its borders or risk being overrun by migrants as seen in Spain. Hanson said she was 'absolutely horrified' after watching dramatic footage of migrants crossing into the Spanish North African enclave at Ceuta. An estimated 50,000 people made the short journey from Morocco on Thursday amid a dramatic collapse of border controls. Spanish authorities later provided an update and claimed more than 48,000 of the migrants had voluntarily returned to their home country by Friday. Hanson said Australians should not assume similar events could never happen here, linking the situation to ongoing debates over Australia's maritime borders. 'Don't think this doesn't happen or will never happen in Australia,' she said. 'We've already had about 12 boats this year arrive on our shores illegally.' The One Nation leader accused the Albanese government of being weak on border protection and called for tougher measures to prevent unauthorised arrivals. Pauline Hanson (pictured) said she was 'absolutely horrified' by Spanish crossings in Ceuta 'Be prepared for this, Australia, until we wake up to ourselves and get a strong government and strong leadership that will say this is not going to happen,' she said. 'We need to make sure we control our borders so this doesn't happen here.' Hanson said she was deeply concerned by the massive migrant rush in Spain last week.  'I'm absolutely horrified by what I've just watched because these are predominantly Muslim men coming from Morocco onto Spanish territory,' she said. 'All they've got to do is make another small trip across the Mediterranean into countries like Spain and France and on to England.' Hanson described the migrants as 'illegals' and said they had entered without permission. 'They weren't invited and they haven't got passports,' she said. 'They just think it's their right to go across the border and do whatever they want to do. An estimated 50,000 people crossed from Morocco into Ceuta on Thursday (pictured)  'I fear for the people of Spain now with that number of people there. How are they going to feed them?  'What jobs are they going to have? They've got absolutely nothing. That's a big problem.' Italy has temporarily suspended the Schengen Agreement and reintroduced border controls with Spain, citing concerns over the influx. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez blamed people-smuggling and trafficking networks for the surge. Authorities recovered at least 57 bodies during the mass crossing. Spanish officials also pointed to a recent Supreme Court ruling that prevented the immediate return of migrants arriving by sea without due process, a decision widely reported on Moroccan social media and which may have encouraged more crossings.