Australian Opposition Leader to Propose Immigration Reforms Based on Values in Policy Speech

The speech, scheduled for Tuesday morning at the Menzies Research Centre, calls for an immigration program that discriminates based on values while remaining non-discriminatory on nationality, race, gender, or faith. Extracts from the speech state that declining immigration standards have allowed entry to migrants with transactional intent.

The leader will argue that not all migrants embrace the national way of life or provide a net benefit, with some acting as a net drain. Public polling indicates widespread concern about migration levels, which increased after the pandemic and have since stabilized but remain above the long-term average.

The opposition has adjusted its immigration messaging after electoral losses in urban areas and shifts in national polls.

The policy includes making compliance with the Australian Values Statement a compulsory visa condition, allowing visa cancellations for non-compliance.

The statement covers elements such as support for freedom of religion, equal opportunity, and English as the national language. Additional measures involve mandatory social media screening, reintroduction of temporary protection visas abolished in 2023, fast-tracking rejections of unfounded asylum claims, and increasing deportations.

A proposed 'safe country list' would expedite assessments for asylum claims from designated countries, addressing a backlog of about 65,000 individuals in Australia after exhausting protection visa options.

Applicants from China and India represent the largest share of monthly asylum applications, with most rejected but some approved annually. The list would not impose blanket bans, and exceptions would be possible. Law enforcement agencies would receive extra funding for deporting unlawful non-citizens.

An enhanced screening coordination center within the Department of Home Affairs would involve agencies including ASIO, the AFP, and the Australian Border Force to screen social media and vet migrants. This center aims to prevent entry by radicals, extremists, and terrorists.

The speech also references approximately 1,300 individuals from Gaza who arrived in Australia following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel.

It calls for a complete reassessment of this group with greater scrutiny due to perceived risks. The opposition's approach draws from previous internal discussions and aims to differentiate from the government's emphasis on migration's economic value. Australia's immigration program currently requires new migrants to sign the Australian Values Statement, but it is not tied to visa conditions.

Immigration levels surged post-pandemic, contributing to public concerns about integration and cultural impacts observed in parts of the UK and Europe. The opposition seeks to address these by prioritizing values in policy. The proposals build on earlier ideas, including a taskforce for intelligence coordination on screening.

Implementation would involve legal considerations for determining values breaches. The speech positions the opposition's stance on culture and values in contrast to other political positions.