Liberal leader Angus Taylor has been criticised by fed-up Australians after revealing his party’s new immigration policy, which will be “non-discriminatory”.
The Opposition leader announced the policy in a speech to the Menzies Research Centre in Sydney on Tuesday and declared on social media: “Australia has a non-discriminatory immigration program. 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. The Coalition is going to proudly put Australian values at the heart of immigration policy. That’s just one part of our broader agenda which will include bringing immigration numbers down to a sustainable level,” he wrote.
Australia has a non-discriminatory immigration program.
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.
The Coalition is going to proudly put Australian… pic.twitter.com/yS2TOt06rO
— Angus Taylor MP (@AngusTaylorMP) April 14, 2026
During his speech he promised to make compliance with an Australian values statement a visa condition, create a “safe countries” list to fast-track protection claims, increase screening to stop extremists, and crackdown on illegal immigrants.
But Mr Taylor’s policy does not include a migration target, and frustrated Aussies responded to his post by saying they wanted a discriminatory immigration policy and net-zero immigration or remigration, calling the policy “weak”, “too little too late”, and vowing to vote One Nation.
“All talk. It’s a no brainer certain cultures are incompatible with Australia’s culture and way of life but I doubt the Liberals will address that tough stance. I reckon One Nation will,” wrote one Aussie on Facebook.
“We need a red list of nationalities not allowed to migrate here, like what Rupert Lowe will do for Britain,” said a critic on X, referring to surging right-wing minor party Restore Britain’s proposed immigration policy.
“Nothing short of remigration is enough. No more ‘skill based’ immigration programs. No more ‘value based’ immigration programs. We have been being sold that lie by the uniparty for years,” wrote another Aussie.
“This is everything wrong with the modern Australian right-wing.”
“It’s time to discriminate again. It’s time for White Australia policy again. Deportations. Remigration,” said another.
“I know what the Australian nationality, race, and faith are, but wtf are Australian values? Could Angus actually define them?” asked National Observer editor John Lawson.
“There is nothing wrong with discriminating when it comes to an immigration program. In fact that is kinda the whole point of running an immigration program. You say we don’t discriminate based on nationality. Why not? Shouldn’t we favour Swedes over Equatorial Guineans! Most Australians in their hearts would say definitely yes!” wrote another X user.
One Nation is now more popular than the Liberal party on both a federal and state basis after a poll surge that began when Mr Taylor’s predecessor Sussan Ley adopted a softer immigration policy in an attempt to win over migrant voters following Labor’s 2025 federal election win.
Most Australians now see One Nation as the best party to handle immigration, polls show, after Prime Minister Albanese presided over net overseas migration of about 1.5 million, with an estimated 2.47 million arrivals.
There were 2.98 million temporary visa holders in Australia as of January 1 – a 4.24% increase on last year’s number – according to official data.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson confirmed last month that she wants to cap immigrant arrivals at 130,000 per year, and said that would result in net overseas migration of about minus 100,000.
Header image: Left, Angus Taylor during his speech (X). Right, pandering to Indian immigrants (Facebook).
