Key Takeaways
- The Australian Coalition is considering implementing stronger tests for aspiring migrants, including language and values tests.
- The party’s migration strategy will be announced soon, and it is expected to be a key point of difference between the Coalition and Labor.
- Conservative MPs are seeking to make migration a key battleground at the next election.
- The Coalition is trying to balance the need to address skills shortages in regional Australia with the need to manage the influx of migration.
- The party is also trying to regain faith among migrant communities that have fallen out with the party in recent months and years.
Introduction to the Coalition’s Migration Strategy
The Australian Coalition is currently reviewing its migration policy and is considering implementing stronger tests for aspiring migrants. According to Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, the party’s coming migration strategy will include "issues around language and values". This move is seen as an attempt to address tensions in Australia over immigration, which Ms Ley says are not the fault of migrants themselves. The Coalition has been bedding down its approach to immigration after its May election loss prompted a full review of the party’s policy offerings.
The Need for Stronger Tests
Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jono Duniam has suggested that the tests for aspiring migrants could be strengthened. Currently, migrants are required to sign an Australian Values Statement but do not have to sit a test, unlike citizenship applicants. Senator Duniam has said that the party is looking at how best to assess someone’s commitment to the country and that a range of options are being considered, including revisiting the citizenship test. The Coalition’s approach to migration is expected to be announced soon, and it is likely to be a key point of difference between the Coalition and Labor.
The Politics of Migration
The issue of migration has become a key battleground in Australian politics, with the Coalition seeking to make it a point of difference with Labor. Conservative MPs are pushing for stronger tests for aspiring migrants, while others are cautioning against blaming migrants for the country’s problems. The Coalition is also trying to stem the loss of voters opposed to migration to One Nation, which has been gaining favor in the polls at a cost to the Coalition. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has revived her 2017 stunt of entering the chamber wearing a burqa, claiming it was to raise concerns around religious repression of women.
The Need for Balance
The Coalition is trying to balance the need to address skills shortages in regional Australia with the need to manage the influx of migration. Nationals leader David Littleproud has said that migration to Australia comes with a responsibility and that the country cannot import the hate that permeates in some other parts of the world. He has also cautioned that the balance between migration and infrastructure is out, and that some tough decisions are needed to allow time to build more homes and other infrastructure. Mr Littleproud has said that the Coalition’s approach to migration will still need to account for a skills shortage in regional Australia, noting shortages in doctors, nurses, town planners, and construction workers among others.
Challenges to the Coalition’s Approach
Not all members of the Coalition are supportive of the party’s approach to migration. Liberal senator Andrew Bragg has cautioned against blaming migrants for the country’s problems, saying that cutting migration would not be a silver bullet for Australia’s housing problems. Senator Bragg has said that the idea of blaming migrants for the housing crisis is economically and morally wrong, and that it is not going to be the Coalition’s policy. The Coalition is facing challenges from within its own ranks, as well as from other parties, as it seeks to develop a migration policy that balances the need to address skills shortages with the need to manage the influx of migration.
Conclusion
The Australian Coalition is facing a complex challenge as it seeks to develop a migration policy that balances the need to address skills shortages with the need to manage the influx of migration. The party’s approach to migration is expected to be a key point of difference with Labor, and it is likely to be a major issue at the next election. The Coalition is trying to balance the need to address skills shortages in regional Australia with the need to manage the influx of migration, while also trying to regain faith among migrant communities that have fallen out with the party in recent months and years. As the party continues to develop its migration policy, it will be important to consider the complex issues at play and to develop a policy that is fair, equitable, and effective.
