Coalition is outlining a tough new migration

policy

May 2026 A coalition government plans to end Australia’s non-discriminatory immigration program and introduce social media vetting for visa applicants if it governs again. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor would also boot migrants that do not exhibit a belief in a “fair go” from the country under his new hardline migration plan. “We need to put Australian values first and that hasn’t been the case in our immigration system in the past and it needs to change,” Taylor told ABC Radio. “(Migrants) must accept our core values and that would mean establishing a legally binding and enforceable values test in the Migration Act as a visa condition.” The coalition has been bleeding votes to the anti-immigration One Nation party backed by a strong showing in the recent South Australian state election. Without putting a number on the migrant intake target he would pursue in government, Taylor said he wants to place greater scrutiny on people attempting to come to Australia from countries that are not Western liberal democracies. ”Australia has a non-discriminatory immigration program,” Taylor said. ”We do not discriminate based on nationality, race, gender, or faith. But for an immigration program to work in the national interest it must discriminate based on values.” Three key measures will seek to “lower the numbers and lift the standards” of Australia’s migration program. They include putting “Australian values” at the centre of migration laws, shutting the door to unauthorised migrants who try to game the asylum system, and giving a “red light to radicals” by strengthening screening processes. Complying with the Australian values statement will be enshrined into law and a prescribed set of behaviours that constitute a breach of Australian values will be established. “In short, 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,” Taylor will say. The Australian values statement is a document prospective migrants must currently sign when applying for a visa, which outlines the values they are expected to uphold. These include respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual, freedom of religion, commitment to the rule of law, recognising English as the national language, and a “fair go” for all that embraces mutual respect, tolerance, compassion and equality of opportunity. What behaviours that would constitute a breach of these values and act as grounds for deportation would be fleshed out in government, a spokesperson for the opposition leader said. Taylor pledged to bring back temporary protection visas, after the government moved people seeking asylum onto a more permanent visa class. This will aim to cut down “cheating” of the immigration system and disincentivise overstaying. Taylor is vowing to establish an enhanced screening coordination centre to identify and block “terrorist sympathisers and security risks” before they enter Australia. The enhanced screening process would include all applicants being forced to provide their social media accounts when applying for a visa. The coalition would also establish a joint agency taskforce to boot out overstayers who take advantage of the “appeals merry-go- round”. “What we don’t have is a legally binding and enforceable values test in the migration act, and we don’t have a cross agency taskforce set up in this way which would receive extra funding,” Taylor said.

Greek Tribune Adelaide, South Australia