The NSWCCL condemns the Coalition’s unveiled immigration policy as a dangerous pivot towards MAGA-style populism and a return to short sighted, small minded, and racist migration policy akin to that of our shameful ‘White Australia Policy” past.
The NSWCCL views the extreme vetting of social media for tourists, making subscription to vague “Australian values” a binding visa condition, and the creation of an "ICE-style" task force, as mirroring some of the most divisive and anti-democratic tactics seen internationally. Proposals to strip legal aid and bypass judicial oversight in migration processes undermines access to justice, and is a departure from the rule of law.
Opposition leader Angus Taylor is moving beyond border security and into disgraceful discrimination by singling out Gazan refugees to be “re-assessed”. This is compounded by the proposed White Australia style "safe country list", designed to fast-track rejections and strip asylum seekers of their right to an individual assessment based on their unique circumstances.
The NSWCCL rejects the Coalition's claim that it battles for “Australian values”. The Coalition’s new immigration policy is not consistent with the values a modern Australia needs to be championing at this time or the leadership it should be showing internationally.Comments attributable to Timothy Roberts, NSWCCL President:
“The Coalition’s immigration policy would be a Trumpian assault on our civil liberties. Vetting social media and making vague “values” a binding visa condition is a poor attempt at cover for the Coalition to shamefully discriminate against the migrants they do not like.
“This terrible vision for Australia is steeped in racism and a call back to a dark part of our history that we should be ashamed of and seek to learn from so it never happens again. Not a vision that we should replicate.
“Stripping legal aid and bypassing judicial oversight with an ICE-like taskforce isn't "tough", it’s a rejection of the rule of law.
“Making those who want to visit and join our community surrender their rights undermines all our rights and weakens Australian values at a time when we need them most”.
Media Contacts:
Timothy Roberts, NSWCCL President
0423 688 120, [email protected]
Hash Palaparthy, Policy and Planning Manager
