Liberal Senator Challenges Angus Taylor’s Immigration and Welfare Policies
A Liberal senator has publicly opposed Angus Taylor’s proposal to restrict welfare access for non-citizens, cautioning that it could divide the community and is contrary to Australian values.
Andrew McLachlan, a vocal backbencher, stated that migrants should not be held responsible for economic challenges such as the housing crisis. He expressed concern that the party’s rhetoric on immigration risks alienating diaspora communities.
Opposition leader Angus Taylor dismissed McLachlan’s concerns while defending his use of the term “mass migration” to describe the current rate of overseas arrivals.
“It [the rhetoric] only alienates the government that has got it wrong, this is nothing to do with [migrant] communities,” Taylor said to reporters on Tuesday.
Taylor’s policy, highlighted in his budget reply speech last week, includes plans to significantly reduce the temporary immigration intake by linking it to housing construction. Additionally, he proposed limiting access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and 17 welfare programs exclusively to Australian citizens if the Coalition wins the next election.
This would prevent migrants, including permanent residents, from receiving benefits such as jobseeker payments, the age pension, disability support, parenting payments, and the NDIS—even if they have paid taxes.
The policy has caused discomfort among some Liberal MPs who feel that Pauline Hanson of One Nation is influencing their party’s agenda.
Concerns Over Creating a Two-Tier Society
Speaking on ABC’s RN Breakfast on Tuesday, McLachlan warned that the citizen-only welfare policy could result in a divided society.
“I have deep concerns coming from a multicultural community that we are going to create two types of members in the community going forward with this policy suite,” the South Australian senator said. “I’m not sure it leads to a healthy Australian community.
“If you’re both contributing to the wealth of the nation and [only] one is entitled to certain entitlements, you could have almost a form of a strata-ing of our society.
“I’m not sure that’s the Australian way, or what our communities want.”
McLachlan added that the Coalition’s rhetoric was alienating migrant communities, which have largely abandoned the party in the last two elections.
“I don’t think we should take a negative approach to migration. Certainly, it should be controlled, and we don’t want to invite people here without giving them a society that can accommodate them both economically and culturally, but we cannot continue to blame migrants for the problems of our economy.”
Migrant groups condemned the Coalition’s policy last week, describing it as “a dangerous escalation of dog-whistle politics that targets communities of colour” rather than a genuine solution to the housing crisis.
“We are not in Trump’s America,” said Noura Mansour, the national director of Democracy in Colour.
Policy Implications and Citizenship Requirements
Coalition frontbenchers have argued that the welfare ban, which would not affect those already receiving payments, is intended to encourage migrants to pursue citizenship.
However, obtaining citizenship requires an individual to have lived in Australia on a valid visa for at least four years immediately prior to application. This means even those who apply promptly could be without welfare support for at least four years.
Additionally, some countries, including China, do not recognize dual citizenship, meaning applicants would lose rights in their home country upon becoming Australian citizens.
On Tuesday, Taylor defended the policy, asserting it serves the national interest by prioritizing citizens.
“Citizenship matters in this country and we welcome those who commit to citizenship, we will commit to them,” the opposition leader said.
Warnings from Experts and Political Reactions
The internal disagreement emerged as a parliamentary inquiry into skilled migration heard warnings that reducing the intake could trigger a crisis in the care sector.
Leah Williams Veazey, a sociologist at the University of Sydney, told the hearing on Tuesday:
“Migrants didn’t cause the housing crisis and reducing migration isn’t going to solve the housing crisis, but what it will give us is a care crisis.”
“We already have an incredible shortages of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and other allied health workers.”
The Business Council of Australia also cautioned last week that significant cuts to migration could exacerbate existing workforce shortages.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Taylor’s budget reply announcements were aimed at “fighting One Nation.”
“We need to not seek to divide Australians, we need to seek to bring Australians together,” the prime minister said.
Warnings Against Aligning with One Nation
McLachlan also addressed Liberals considering switching allegiance to One Nation after former party members Craig Kelly and Teena McQueen joined Hanson’s party.
“You’re making a mistake,” he said.
“If you want to share Liberal values, then you shouldn’t be looking for a false path and a wide path, which does not contain policy that will advance Australians’ lives.”
