Australian MP Jason Virgo Breaks One Nation Rhetoric with Immigrant-Positive, LGBTQ+ Maiden Speech

On his first day in the House of Representatives, newly elected One Nation MP Jason Virgo delivered a maiden speech that diverged sharply from his party’s traditional platform. Virgo publicly declared “I love immigrants,” highlighted personal friendships with people from China, India and the Philippines, and announced that his partner, Rhisang Alfarid, a Muslim born in Indonesia, is “the love of my life.” The speech was described by observers as an emotional departure from One Nation’s established positions.

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One Nation has been widely associated with anti-immigration and anti-LGBTQ+ stances. The party’s public messaging historically emphasizes stricter immigration controls and opposition to same-sex marriage. Virgo’s statements therefore represent a notable contrast to the party’s prevailing narrative.

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• Jason Virgo – MP for One Nation, openly gay, elected in the most recent federal election.

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• Rhisang Alfarid – Virgo’s partner, a Muslim Australian originally from Indonesia.

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• Former One Nation candidate – Unnamed former party candidate who commented on Virgo’s impact on the party’s public image.

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Virgo’s speech emphasized personal experience over party doctrine, noting his lifelong openness about his sexuality and his close friendships with immigrant communities. Party officials have not issued a formal response in the source material. A former One Nation candidate observed that Virgo’s visibility “made it harder to label the members of the party ‘as some cartoon racist or homophobe.’” Detractors, citing a news.com.au report, argued that the episode underscores the party’s “hodgepodge of opportunists with no real cohesion other than the desire for power.”

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Social-media users reacted sharply. An X user named Adam labeled Virgo a “Trojan horse,” suggesting he concealed his true views to win election. Others questioned whether his conduct constituted fraud. A commentator noted that Virgo “still seems to be against actual immigration, and ‘immigrants I know personally are fine, everyone else is bad’ is a pretty common right-wing position.” Conversely, some observers argued that Virgo simply “revealed the full version of the character after launch,” implying no ideological shift.

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• “I have been openly gay throughout my entire adult life,” — Jason Virgo, MP

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• “Rhisang was born in Indonesia. A Muslim, and is now a proud Australian.” — Jason Virgo, MP

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• “[H]e hit the whole country with the ol razzle dazzle that’s actually hilarious” — Adam, X user

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• “he just revealed the full version of the character after launch.” — Unnamed viewer, social media

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• “is a hodgepodge of opportunists with no real cohesion other than the desire for power,” — news.com.au, reporting

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Sources differ on whether Virgo has altered his stance on immigration. Some commenters assert he remains opposed to broader immigration, while the former party candidate suggests his views are “more centrist.” No official party comment clarifies the party’s internal response, leaving a gap in understanding how One Nation will address the divergence.

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Virgo’s speech challenges the monolithic perception of One Nation, potentially reshaping public discourse around the party’s ideological boundaries. The episode may influence voter attitudes, internal party dynamics, and future candidate selection, as the party confronts accusations of opportunism versus ideological flexibility.

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The parliamentary term will soon test whether One Nation’s leadership issues a formal stance on Virgo’s remarks. Continued media coverage and constituent feedback are likely to shape any forthcoming policy adjustments or disciplinary actions within the party.

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