Social media screening and a plan to deport people who breach Australian values would be introduced under a Coalition government, according to a newly minted migration policy to be released on Tuesday.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor will unveil the first part of his plan for a migration crackdown in a speech to the Menzies Research Centre.
“Australians are fed up with politically correct preaching on immigration,” Mr Taylor will say.
A key element of the plan would involve a social media review of anyone who applies for an Australian visa, similar to one rolled out in the United States.
Limited details on the policy have been made available to the ABC ahead of the announcement.
Mr Taylor intends to establish an “Enhanced Screening Coordination Centre” that would have intelligence, screening and enforcement capabilities.
Its job would be to screen out “terrorist sympathisers and security risks before they come to Australia” by reviewing social media accounts.
“As part of the enhanced screening process, all visa applicants will be required to provide social media accounts when applying for a visa,” Mr Taylor will say in his speech.
“The centre will stop radicals, extremists and terrorists from entering our country.”
The social media checks would be “a standard feature of vetting” rather than a step only taken when deemed necessary.
‘Booted’ for breaching values
Some of the elements detailed in Mr Taylor’s plan align closely with a draft policy the Coalition was preparing under the leadership of Sussan Ley.
Among them, a promise to make binding a declaration, which visa applicants sign, agreeing to abide by Australian values.
“Our door has also been opened to people who, while rejecting hate and violence, nevertheless still reject our core values,” Mr Taylor will tell the Menzies Research Centre.
The values listed on the Home Affairs website range from respecting individual dignity, and religious freedom, to commitment to the rule of law, and a “fair-go” for all.
People who apply for visas are currently warned that failing to sign the values statement could lead to a delay or refusal of their visa application.
Some details in Mr Taylor’s announcement closely match an immigration policy being drafted before Sussan Ley with ousted as leader. (ABC News: Callum Flinn)
But Mr Taylor has criticised the current approach as a “tick-box exercise” and proposes making that statement a binding requirement for anyone who holds a visa.
Under a Coalition government, penalties for those who breach the statement would be introduced.
“If a visa holder undermines our democratic values, doesn’t respect the law, or demonstrates they don’t respect our core values, they will be booted out of Australia,” Mr Taylor will say.
“We will establish a proscribed set of behaviours that constitute a breach of Australian values.
“With this stronger rule book, there will be no more ambiguity in courts and tribunals.”
Coalition floats stronger ‘values’ test for migrants
There would also, under the Coalition’s plan, be a ban on anyone who is not an Australian citizen from accessing legal aid funded by the taxpayer to appeal a visa cancellation.
“We’re not going to tolerate overstayers who refuse to hop off the appeals merry-go-round despite being told they have no legal right to stay in Australia,” Mr Taylor will say in his policy announcement.
Visa overstayers would be targeted by a proposed joint task force and Mr Taylor would “restore” Temporary Protection Visas.
“The prospect of permanent protection incentivises overstaying,” he will say.
“By incinerating that incentive, we will send a clear message that bogus claims of persecution will never be a pathway to permanency [for] those who come here unlawfully or under false pretences.”
‘Migrants of subversive intent’
The Coalition argues Australia’s migration settings have “been in chaos” with too many people allowed into the country and not strong enough vetting to maintain a high migrant standard.
“Those who migrate from liberal democracies have a greater likelihood of subscribing to Australian values compared to those migrating from places ruled by fundamentalists, extremists, and dictators,” Mr Taylor will say.
As part of the plan, a “safe country” list would be established. People with “unfounded protection” applications coming from those countries could face a fast-tracked refusal.
“Our immigration system is being exploited by people using the false pretext of needing protection or study to stay here for economic reasons,” Mr Taylor will say.
National overseas migration (NOM) has dropped from 429,000 in 2023-24 to about 306,000 for 2024-25, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics December data.
Labor has an annual NOM target of 225,000 people over the next three years.
Three pillars of policy
Mr Taylor’s new migration policy has three pillars, according to details seen by the ABC.
The pillars focus on putting Australians first, shutting out people who abuse the immigration system and “showing a red light to radicals”.
“For an immigration program to work in the national interest it must discriminate based on values,” Mr Taylor will argue.
“Declining immigration standards have seen our door opened to migrants of subversive intent.”
The Liberal-Nationals plan would also involve making it harder for non-citizens to access social security, or use government assistance to buy a home.
The broader policy would, according to the Coalition plan, ease pressure on the housing market, infrastructure and essential services.
“Restoring our standard of living and protecting our way of life is also about immigration,” Mr Taylor says in his speech.”