{"id":608981,"date":"2026-04-15T18:15:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T18:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/608981\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T18:15:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T18:15:11","slug":"labor-lashes-coalition-immigration-plan-as-usman-khawaja-calls-policy-appalling-australian-immigration-and-asylum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/608981\/","title":{"rendered":"Labor lashes Coalition immigration plan as Usman Khawaja calls policy \u2018appalling\u2019 | Australian immigration and asylum"},"content":{"rendered":"

Angus Taylor\u2019s plans to favour immigration from liberal democracies would fundamentally change the character of the nation, Labor has warned, challenging the Coalition to explain where existing deportation powers are insufficient.<\/p>\n

Home affairs minister Tony Burke lashed Taylor\u2019s new hardline policy<\/a>, which was unveiled on Tuesday, accusing the Coalition of chasing voters who were moving to Pauline Hanson\u2019s One Nation.<\/p>\n

The opposition leader said migrants from liberal democracies had a greater likelihood of subscribing to Australian values, \u201ccompared to those migrating from places ruled by fundamentalists, extremists and dictators\u201d.<\/p>\n

He warned existing laws allowed individuals who reject core Australian values to settle in the country, accusing Labor of turning a blind eye to \u201ca reality of immigration and integration\u201d.<\/p>\n

Labor believes the Coalition plan will further alienate voters in multicultural communities, including electorates with large numbers of Chinese Australian voters.<\/p>\n

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Burke said on Wednesday that Taylor\u2019s plan \u2013 the first in a series of promised announcements \u2013 was a decision about \u201cwhat sort of country we are\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI still want them to provide the example of the person who we can\u2019t currently cancel or refuse a visa to, who they want us to be able to,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr Taylor has been asked a couple of times to provide this exact example and hasn\u2019t, simply because what they are wanting is a discussion and a meme.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no policy attached to what they\u2019ve announced.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cricket great Usman Khawaja called the policy \u201cappalling\u201d on social media<\/a>. He challenged Taylor to say plainly that the policy would discriminate against Muslims.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t beat around the bush by using words such as \u2018extremist, \u2018fundamentalist\u2019 and \u2018dictators\u2019. Most of the world shares the same values as Australia, presumably the most important in any democracy, respect everyone and don\u2019t break the law.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t judge individuals based on their governments or government representatives. If we did that you wouldn\u2019t be allowed anywhere at this moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Coalition plans to add the existing Australian values statement to the Migration Act, to give the government the power to cancel visas and deport people not subscribing to its goals.<\/p>\n

The statement calls for respect for freedom and the dignity of individuals, freedom of religion, a commitment to the rule of law, equality, and a \u201cfair go\u201d for all.<\/p>\n

A new \u201csafe country list\u201d would be introduced, to fast-track refusals for asylum claims from countries deemed safe to return to. The list would be based on a similar list used by UK authorities and would be administered by the Home Affairs Department.<\/p>\n

Asked how the new policy would work during a campaign stop in Queensland, Taylor cited the Bondi beach terror attack in December, and said migrants who did not believe in Australia\u2019s parliamentary democracy or the rule of law should be removed.<\/p>\n

He also cited sharia law and individuals holding extremist views.<\/p>\n

\"HowHow Trump\u2019s \u2018wall of noise\u2019 is changing Australian politics \u2013 Back to Back Barries podcast<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the moment, the situation is that the values statement is not enforceable. It can\u2019t be used on its own as the basis for cancellation or refusal,\u201d Taylor said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re proposing to change that by putting it into the legislation and making it enforceable and making it a basis for cancellation and refusal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taylor also wants permanent residents to be required to learn English.<\/a><\/p>\n

Anne Aly, the minister for multicultural affairs, told ABC TV the Coalition was departing from the principles of Australia\u2019s non-discriminatory immigration system with the plan.<\/p>\n

But she agreed some English competency was appropriate and said most migrants wanted to learn and speak English.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody needs a functional level of English language to access services, to be able to have a smooth settlement journey and to be able to fully integrate into Australian society.\u201d<\/p>\n

Noncitizens would also have to wait longer to access social security support under the Coalition policy and a Taylor government would establish new enhanced screening coordination within Home Affairs and better integrate intelligence and enforcement capabilities from Asio, the federal police and border force.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Coalition\u2019s Australian values migration plan will protect Australians\u2019 way of life and restore integrity to our migration system,\u201d Taylor said.<\/p>\n