Pauline Hanson, the leader of One Nation, recently took center stage at an anti-immigration rally, calling for a national conversation on identity and values. This comes as the Coalition prepares to introduce a new policy.

The upcoming policy aims to reduce immigration levels and encourage settlement in regional areas.

Addressing supporters in Melbourne, Hanson criticized multiculturalism and globalization, arguing they threaten national identity and dignity.

Meanwhile, a counter-protest also took place, with demonstrators making their presence known as law enforcement worked diligently to maintain order and keep the groups separated.

Hanson’s speech, delivered to a crowd of 700 marching from Flinders Street to Flagstaff Gardens, coincides with the Coalition’s development of a new migration strategy set to be released in the near future.

“We need a migration policy that slows down and buys some time for us to build some homes,” Nationals leader David Littleproud told Insiders.

Liberal leader Sussan Ley blamed the government’s policies.

“It’s not a failure of any migrant or migrant communities it’s a massive failure of the Labor government to build the infrastructure we need,” she said.

She said non-infrastructure ideas – like stricter English language requirements and morals tests – “form part of that conversation”.

The most recent Redbridge/Accent poll for the Financial Review has Labor above the Coalition when asked who is best to handle immigration but both well behind One Nation.

The Nationals want more power over where migrants and visa holders live when they arrive, hoping to channel more people and in particular more trades to regional Australia

“Just pouring people into Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane – you’re all living with that experience and your children are losing hope.” Littleproud said.

Labor Trade Minister Don Farrell last week urged the Coalition not to pursue immigration cuts.

“Immigration is important for the future of this country,” he told Sky News.

“It should be a bipartisan issue. For the most of the history of this country, immigration has been a bipartisan issue.

“I’d much prefer it to be the government and the opposition sitting down, working out what is the best way to go forward in the immigration space.”