A leaked Coalition document has revealed a stringent immigration strategy being considered by the Liberal Party, aimed at regaining favour with conservative voters. This proposed policy outlines the establishment of a new taskforce, codenamed “Operation Gatekeeper,” which would be responsible for vetting prospective migrants to ensure their alignment with Australian values. Furthermore, the plan suggests outright bans for individuals from certain geographical regions.
This significant policy shift comes in the wake of comments made by Angus Taylor, the new Coalition leader, who recently intensified the rhetoric surrounding immigration in some of his initial public statements. His remarks have clearly signalled a departure from previous approaches, as the party grapples with declining support.
The Challenge of One Nation
The political landscape is currently presenting a formidable challenge for the new Liberal leadership. For the first time, the populist party One Nation is polling on par with the Coalition, signalling a potential shift in the conservative voting bloc. A recent opinion poll conducted by the Resolve Political Monitor, as reported in The Sydney Morning Herald, revealed that One Nation now commands 23 per cent of the primary vote, equalling the Coalition’s support. This poll was the first to be released since Angus Taylor replaced Sussan Ley as Liberal leader last Friday.
While Taylor did receive a slight endorsement, with voters rating him three percentage points higher than Ley, the overall polling data presents a sobering picture for the new Liberal leader and his deputy, Jane Hume. The Coalition’s backing has continued to slide, reaching a new record low of 28 per cent, a drop from 28 per cent just last month. Conversely, One Nation’s support has seen a dramatic surge, climbing from 18 per cent in January to its current impressive standing.
Reclaiming Disaffected Voters
Speaking on the “Today” program, Taylor emphasised the critical importance of winning back Liberal voters who have become disaffected. “We want to see people who are Liberal voters, who have voted Liberal in the past, or who might be considering voting the last election or in the future,” he stated. “We want to see them coming back and we know the way they will come back is if they see us fighting for them on the issues that matter to them.”
The issue of immigration has emerged as the paramount concern for the new Liberal leadership team and is widely seen as the primary driver behind One Nation’s escalating popularity in recent months.
Operation Gatekeeper: A New Immigration Blueprint
The 23-page leaked Coalition document, marked ‘shadow cabinet in confidence,’ provides a detailed blueprint for the party’s proposed new immigration policy. This document outlines a significant departure from previous approaches. Last weekend, Taylor publicly questioned whether migrants genuinely shared Australian values and whether the current composition of migrant intake was appropriate for the nation.
The document explicitly defines core Australian values as:
- Freedom of religion
- Freedom of speech
- Commitment to the rule of law and parliamentary democracy
- Equal opportunity
- The English language as the national language
Central to the proposed strategy is the establishment of “Operation Gatekeeper,” a specialised unit within the Department of Home Affairs. This taskforce would reportedly involve intelligence from ASIO, along with operational capabilities from Border Force and the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Its primary function would be to rigorously screen all visa applicants.
A particularly striking element of this proposal is the suggestion that visas would be denied to individuals originating from specific regions within 13 countries. These nations include:
- Lebanon
- Nigeria
- Afghanistan
- Palestine
- The Philippines
- Algeria
- Cameroon
- Egypt
- Libya
- Mali
- Niger
- Somalia
- Yemen
These regions have been identified as areas known for significant terrorist activity and include locations from which alleged terrorists involved in recent incidents are believed to have travelled.
Addressing Concerns and Future Tests
This comprehensive immigration package was reportedly slated for release by Sussan Ley’s team prior to her ousting as Liberal leader. Deputy Leader Jane Hume, however, has moved to address potential criticisms, insisting that the proposed new-look Liberal immigration and refugee policy would not be discriminatory or racist.
“There’s no doubt that what we need to ensure is we have lower numbers because we need time for housing, for infrastructure to services, to catch up with the high population growth,” Hume commented. “But we also need to ensure that we have our way of life protected.”
The immediate future will present the first significant test for Angus Taylor as he prepares for a byelection in Farrer, Sussan Ley’s former NSW seat. Ley herself announced her immediate retirement from politics following her leadership challenge.
