Taylor claims people who migrate from liberal democracies likelier to share Australian values than those from ‘other places’

Taylor claimed those from Gaza presented a “high risk” to Australia. He said:

double quotation markFor too long we’ve turned a blind eye to the reality of immigration and integration.

Those who migrate from liberal democracies have a greater likelihood of subscribing to Australian values compared to those coming from other places.

Australia has a non-discriminatory immigration program … But for an immigration program to work in the national interest, it must discriminate based on values.

The opposition leader claimed Australians were “fed up” with Labor’s immigration policies.

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Updated at 21.32 EDT

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Greens accuse Coalition of reviving White Australia policy

Dan Jervis-Bardy

The Greens accused the Coalition of pursuing a “2026 version of the White Australia” policy after Angus Taylor outlined the first planks of the opposition’s immigration policy.

David Shoebridge, the Greens immigration spokesperson, said the policies unveiled on Tuesday showed the Coalition had been “captured by extremists”.

Shoebridge pointed to Taylor’s claim that the cohort of Palestinian refugees who fled the war in Gaza presented a “clear risk to the country” and should be reassessed.

He posted on X:

double quotation markThe Greens know that immigration and multiculturalism makes us strong. We have experiences, talents and knowledge from across the world together here. It’s a key part of what makes us the Lucky Country.

The truth is that both Labor and the Coalition see the racism and division of One Nation and Trump and instead of fighting it, they copy it. This is hurting millions of Australians who fear their religion, their origins or their skin colour will make them a target.

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Updated at 21.37 EDT

Taylor says those seeking permanent residency would need to learn English

Taylor said English proficiency will become a requirement for those seeking permanent residency. He said:

double quotation markThe Coalition will make learning English an obligation for permanent visa holders, not an option.

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Updated at 21.28 EDT

Taylor claims people who migrate from liberal democracies likelier to share Australian values than those from ‘other places’

Taylor claimed those from Gaza presented a “high risk” to Australia. He said:

double quotation markFor too long we’ve turned a blind eye to the reality of immigration and integration.

Those who migrate from liberal democracies have a greater likelihood of subscribing to Australian values compared to those coming from other places.

Australia has a non-discriminatory immigration program … But for an immigration program to work in the national interest, it must discriminate based on values.

The opposition leader claimed Australians were “fed up” with Labor’s immigration policies.

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Updated at 21.32 EDT

Australia ‘changing for the worse’ due to ‘migrants of subversive intent’, Taylor claims

Angus Taylor is moving on to immigration, what he says is “an issue of deep and growing concern to Australians”.

double quotation markUnfortunately, something has changed in recent times. Immigration numbers are too high. Consequently, Australians can see the country they love changing for the worse.

The Coalition was adamant earlier this morning that their policies are not Trumpian in nature. But in his earlier report, political editor Tom McIlroy noted similarities to recent US rules in some elements of the plan:

Taylor claims there are two categories of migrants: those who embrace Australia, and those who are “subversive” and want Australia “to change for them”:

double quotation markDeclining immigration standards have seen our door open to migrants of subversive intent.

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Updated at 21.26 EDT

Taylor: ‘Bigger government and a bigger Australia has not meant a better Australia’

Taylor is listing a slate of grievances with the Labor party, including the ongoing fuel shortage, what he says is a shortage in defence spending and, the topic of this speech, the rate of migration into Australia.

He said:

double quotation markUnder my leadership we will change for the better. We will deliver policies for the change our nation needs …

Now here’s the truth: Bigger government and a bigger Australia has not meant a better Australia.

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Updated at 21.14 EDT

The opposition leader, Angus Taylor, is up in Canberra to unveil the Coalition’s new, hardline immigration policies.

We’ll bring you those updates as soon as they happen.

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Updated at 21.14 EDT

Benita Kolovos

Victoria premier at meeting where MPs will decide who to join cabinet

The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has arrived at a Labor caucus meeting where MPs are set to decide who will be elevated to cabinet.

Yesterday, ministers Mary-Anne Thomas, Gayle Tierney and Danny Pearson announced they would not be recontesting the November election, joining Natalie Hutchins who resigned in December.

Mary-Anne Thomas (right). Photograph: James Ross/AAP

It leaves four vacancies to be filled, with Labor sources saying Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch, Eureka MP Michaela Settle and Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke will fill three. Box Hill MP Paul Hamer and Mordialloc MP Tim Richardson are both vying for the final spot, which will be determined by the socialist left faction.

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Updated at 21.13 EDT

Benita Kolovos

Nationals preselect local publican to challenge premier in Bendigo seat

The Nationals have confirmed Andrew Lethlean has been chosen as the party’s candidate to challenge the premier, Jacinta Allan, in her seat of Bendigo East at the November state election.

Allan has held the seat since she was first elected in 1999. But the Nationals are confident Lethlean, a local publican, can make the seat competitive after his strong showing in last year’s federal election in the overlapping seat of Bendigo.

At that poll, Lethlean polled 29.7% and Chester was left hanging on with a narrow 1.4% margin. It was the strongest swing away from Labor anywhere in the country, at 9.8%.

In a statement on Tuesday, Lethlean said it was a privilege to run in the state election. He said:

double quotation markThe Bendigo community means everything to me. It’s given me so much and I’d like to give something back. I will be fighting for every vote and if elected will fight hard every day for Bendigo.

The Nationals’ State President, Jo Armstrong, said:

Andrew’s standing in the Bendigo community was reflected when he achieved a near 10 per cent swing in last May’s federal election.

double quotation markHowever, at the state election, the Nationals will also face competition from One Nation, who plan to capitalise on the anger in regional Victoria.

ShareLuca Ittimani

Chris Minns says Taylor needs to offer more than ‘wishy-washy policy’

The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, has challenged Angus Taylor to offer more than “wishy-washy policy” in his calls for “values-based” immigration.

The federal opposition leader will this morning propose increased vetting and stricter conditions on migrants to Australia, including to deport visa holders who fail to uphold the Australian values statement.

Minns told reporters earlier this morning immigration levels had exceeded the federal government’s targets and he believed a “values-based” approach had universal support.

On Taylor’s upcoming speech, Minns said:

double quotation markThe general point, that we want people to come to Australia who love Australia, is a good principle … We’re in a position where we can effectively choose who the future Australians are and of course the commonsense position would be, if you’re going to choose, you want to choose people that love the country and are going to contribute to it.

I’m going to watch his speech today but I just say that, if it’s full of noble words and grand statements, but wishy-washy policy, we’ve heard all that before …

There’d be no circumstance where we should be in a position to be accepting people into our country that don’t love the country and the prime minister has made that very, very clear, particularly over the last six months. Every prime minister’s made that case … The question is, what’s the federal opposition proposing in this policy?

NSW premier Chris Minns. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAPShare

Updated at 21.00 EDT

Patrick Commins

Deputy RBA governor fears ‘big real income shock for Australia’

The deputy governor also noted that consumer confidence measures have “fallen very, very sharply”.

double quotation markI don’t think those surveys necessarily tell you a lot about what consumption is going to do. But if they’re right, we have a big income shock coming our way.

He noted that Australia was “the highest user of diesel per capita in the world”.

double quotation markSo this is a big real income shock for Australia, even if national income and fiscal coffers may benefit from that net export position.

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Updated at 20.50 EDT

Stagflation threat from Iran war a ‘nightmare’, RBA deputy governor says

Patrick Commins

Andrew Hauser, the Reserve Bank’s deputy governor, says the “stagflationary shock” from the Iran war is a “central banker’s nightmare”.

Speaking at an event in New York this morning, Hauser said the RBA was “judging the balance” between the damage to the economy from “a big income shock” associated with soaring fuel prices, versus a sharp rise in inflation.

double quotation markWe’re going to have to think about that in that overall way. It is the central bankers’ nightmare: you know, the stagflationary shock, with inflation up, activity down [and] judging the balance between those two.

With financial markets earlier this morning pricing in a 64% chance of a third straight interest rate hike at the next central bank boarding meeting on 5 May, Hauser said it was “easy to see that upside inflation pressure”.

But he said it was “more important for us now to think through what that medium term impact might be”.

“It might still be on the upside, in which case we’re going to have to respond” with higher rates.

double quotation markBut we do also need to take account of the possibility that activity slows.

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Updated at 20.49 EDT

Taylor says permanent residents should be excluded from 5% home deposit scheme

Angus Taylor, the opposition leader, said the opposition will push scrapping the government’s 5% first homebuyers’ deposit scheme for permanent residents.

You can read more about that scheme itself here:

Taylor spoke to 2GB earlier, saying the program should be exclusively for Australian citizens. He said:

double quotation markSeriously, this is a scheme designed for Australians to get into a home. Young Aussie citizens.

So let me give you a sneak preview of the speech I’m going to give at 11 o’clock today. I will say at that speech that we will restrict that program to Australian citizens.

One Nation’s Pauline Hanson has been pushing content lambasting apparent government promotion of the scheme overseas in recent days.

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Updated at 20.42 EDT