Coalition unveils first instalment of its Australian values migration plan

A Coalition Government will restore integrity, fairness and public confidence in Australia’s migration system, announcing the first instalment of its comprehensive plan to put Australian values back at the heart of immigration policy.

This initial package forms part of the Coalition’s Australian Values Migration Plan, with further measures to be developed and announced throughout the term.

The policies will strengthen Australian values, shut the door to people who abuse our immigration system and show a red light to radicals.

Senator for Victoria, Sarah Henderson, said the Coalition is committed to protecting Australia’s way of life and restoring confidence in the nation’s migration program.

“Since Labor came to power, Australia’s migration program has been in chaos. Numbers have been too high and standards have been too low,” Senator Henderson said.

“The Coalition’s plan will restore integrity, rebuild confidence, and ensure our migration system serves the national interest.

“We will pursue a values-based migration system that puts Australian values at its heart, shutting the door to those who hate our country or abuse our legal system to stay here without a right to do so.”

The first instalment of the Coalition’s Australians Values Migration Plan includes three key measures:

1. Putting Australian Values First and at the centre of our migration laws by enshrining compliance with the Australian Values Statement as a universal visa condition under the Migration Regulations 1994.

The Coalition will:

• • Make compliance with the Australian Values Statement a binding requirement for visa holders.
• • Enable visas to be refused or cancelled where individuals fail to uphold these values.
• • Codify breaches of the Australian Values Statement as a ground for failing the Character Test under the Migration Act 1958 and being booted out of the country.
• • Prioritise demonstrated alignment with the Australian Values Statement when assessing permanent visa applications.
• • Prioritising taxpayer support for home ownership for Australian citizens, and making non-citizens wait longer for access to our social security system.

2. Shutting the Door to System Abuse by implementing decisive measures to deter unfounded claims and enforcing Australian law.

The Coalition will:

• • Introduce a Safe Country List to fast-track the refusal of unfounded protection claims from those places deemed safe countries.
• • Restore Temporary Protection Visas and Safe Haven Enterprise Visas as the dominant forms of onshore protection visas for people who come here unlawfully or under false pretenses.
• • Provide extra funding to law enforcement to identify,deport and remove unlawful non-citizens who have exhausted their legal avenues but stay in Australia illegally.

3. Show a Red Light to Radicals by strengthening screening processes to prevent extremists from entering the country.

The Coalition will:

• • Establish an Enhanced Screening Coordination Centre within the Department of Home Affairs. This would also see social media screening of visa applicants move from an as needed risk basis to become a standard feature of vetting.
• • Integrate intelligence and enforcement capabilities across agencies including ASIO, the AFP and the Australian Border Force.
• • Enable real-time, risk-based visa vetting to identify and block individuals who pose a threat to Australia.

Senator Henderson said the reforms mark the beginning of a broader agenda to restore integrity to the migration system.

“To protect our way of life and restore Australians’ standard of living, we must reduce immigration numbers and lift migration standards,” she said.

Further measures under the Australian Values Migration Plan will be announced in due course.