Liberal senator Andrew McLachlan has pushed back at his party's rhetoric on immigration, saying it's 'not the Australian way'. The outspoken backbencher warned that the Coalition's plan to bar non-citizens from accessing welfare would create 'two types of members of the community' and alienate diaspora communities.
McLachlan's Concerns
Speaking on ABC's RN Breakfast, McLachlan said he had 'deep concerns' about the citizen-only welfare policy proposed by opposition treasury spokesman Angus Taylor. 'If you're both contributing to the wealth of the nation and only one is entitled to certain entitlements, you could have almost a form of a strata-ing of our society,' he said. 'I'm not sure that's the Australian way, or what our communities want.'
McLachlan also criticised the negative approach to migration, stating, 'We cannot continue to blame migrants for the problems of our economy.' He argued that while migration should be controlled, it should not be used as a scapegoat for issues like the housing crisis.
Taylor's Defence
Angus Taylor brushed off McLachlan's concerns, defending the use of the phrase 'mass migration' and insisting the policy was in the national interest. 'Citizenship matters in this country and we welcome those who commit to citizenship, we will commit to them,' Taylor told reporters. He made immigration a centrepiece of his budget reply speech, promising to reduce the temporary immigration intake and restrict welfare to citizens.
Internal Party Tensions
The internal stoush highlights growing unease among some Liberals who believe One Nation's Pauline Hanson is dictating their agenda. McLachlan warned Liberals considering switching allegiances to One Nation that they were 'making a mistake'. 'If you want to share Liberal values, then you shouldn't be looking for a false path and a wide path, which does not contain policy that will advance Australians' lives,' he said.
Migrant Groups and Experts React
Migrant groups condemned the Coalition's policy as 'a dangerous escalation of dog-whistle politics'. Noura Mansour from Democracy in Colour said, 'We are not in Trump's America.' A parliamentary inquiry into skilled migration also heard warnings that slashing the intake would cause a crisis in the care sector, with shortages of doctors, nurses, and allied health workers already critical.
Government Response
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accused Taylor of focusing on 'fighting One Nation' rather than bringing Australians together. Minister for Multicultural Affairs Anne Aly said Taylor's plan cast permanent residents as 'unworthy' and a 'burden' on the country.
