Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has distanced himself from a controversial immigration policy drafted under his predecessor, Sussan Ley, which reportedly considered banning entry to individuals from countries including Gaza, Somalia, and the Philippines. Taylor, who assumed the leadership on Friday following a spill motion, stated he had not seen the document and that it held no validity given the change in leadership.
“That document, which I haven’t actually seen, has no validity,” Taylor said on the ABC’s 7.30 program. “It didn’t go through shadow cabinet or the leadership and as I understand it, wasn’t seen by the relevant immigration shadows. Frankly, I don’t know what the document is, I don’t know where it’s come from and I don’t know what’s in it.”
The policy’s emergence has prompted denials from several key figures within the Liberal Party. Senators Jonno Duniam and Paul Scarr, who previously held the home affairs and immigration portfolios respectively under Ley, also stated they were not involved in its development.
Despite distancing himself from the specifics of the leaked proposal, Taylor indicated support for elements focused on deporting migrants who do not align with Australian values. “If they’re not a citizen and they’re temporarily here in this country and it’s clear that they don’t adopt those core values, they should go,” he stated, adding that he didn’t believe this position was “particularly controversial.”
Taylor also emphasized the need to strengthen security measures in light of recent events, including the Bondi terror attack. He suggested a review of immigration processes, particularly concerning individuals from “high-risk” regions. “I think we need to tighten up on this,” he said. “Our intelligence agencies clearly need to be at the heart of that.”
He elaborated, stating that while he wouldn’t necessarily impose blanket bans on individuals from specific countries, increased scrutiny and thorough vetting were essential. “There are some parts of the world where we are more likely to see people who are going to bring hate and violence to our country than others,” Taylor said. “That doesn’t mean you necessarily shut the door on those places, but it does mean you do the work to make sure the people who are coming are not people who are going to threaten their way of life and bring violence to our country.”
Beyond immigration, Taylor addressed the issue of housing affordability, stating that increasing supply was the key to addressing the crisis. He pointed to infrastructure investment in Western Sydney as an example of how increased supply could lead to more accessible and affordable housing options. He maintained that the Coalition had a viable solution, referencing positive outcomes in his own electorate.
The emergence of this debate comes as Taylor seeks to unite the Liberal Party following the leadership change. The leaked immigration policy and his response to it are likely to be closely scrutinized as he attempts to define his leadership and chart a new course for the party.
