Anthony Albanese’s private meeting with Angus Taylor to break down a possible migration solution
Anthony Albanese and Angus Taylor have held a private meeting after the Opposition dropped a list of migration requirements on the PM to gain their support for the Government’s stalled immigration overhaul.
Anthony Albanese and Angus Taylor have held a private meeting after the Opposition dropped a list of migration requirements on the PM to gain their support for the Government’s stalled immigration overhaul.
The 10 demands reportedly included making it illegal for someone to repatriate terrorist sympathisers, stopping terror suspects from entering Australia, establishing a UK-style Safe Country List, removing legal aid for those appealing a visa decision or charged with serious criminal offences and deporting serious criminals here on visas.
They also included stripping government welfare for those denied visas, cutting back visa-hopping, restricting eligibility for the temporary graduate visa, elevating the Australian Values Statement to a visa condition and finding and removing the 77,000 unlawful non-citizens residing in Australia.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Mr Albanese reportedly hosted Mr Taylor and opposition home affairs spokesman Jonno Duniam in the Prime Minister’s office after question time on Wednesday.
Earlier, the Opposition had written to the government about the quest to meet net overseas migration targets.
“Australia has always benefited from a well-managed immigration program that is targeted, sustainable, values-based and underpinned by secure borders. However, under your government, numbers are too high and standards are too low. Both must change,” the letter reportedly included, according to The Australian.
“For some time, the rate of new migration has exceeded the number of homes available, leaving Australia with around 400,000 more people than homes. Meanwhile, 77,000 unlawful non-citizens remain in Australia with no legal right to stay, yet your government is failing to remove them.
“I note that the measures you are considering are merely to bring migration to a target of 225,000 next year, but this number is still far too high. Capping migration to housing completions would bring this number below 170,000 today.
“I call on you to immediately … restore control over our immigration system and put an end to the chaos. Urgent action is needed to restore integrity, trust and control to Australia’s immigration system.”
