Australia’s Liberal Party proposes immigration ban on 13 countries with terror-controlled regions: Report

Australia’s Liberal Party has proposed banning immigration from terror-controlled regions across 13 countries, including Egypt, Palestine and the Philippines, under a policy developed while the party was in opposition, a media report said.The proposed framework could see up to 37 regions — allegedly under the control of 15 listed terrorist organisations — designated under the ban. Countries referenced include Afghanistan, Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Palestine, the Philippines, Somalia and Yemen. Gaza was also cited as a potential designated region, Sky News reported.

The policy was prepared under former opposition leader Sussan Ley, alongside shadow immigration minister Paul Scarr and shadow home affairs minister Jonno Duniam, the report said.
However, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said he had not seen the details of the proposal when questioned on Sky News Sunday Agenda, despite being part of Ley’s shadow cabinet at the time. Taylor said the policy had not been approved by the shadow cabinet, the shadow Expenditure Review Committee (ERC), or the party’s leadership group, the report mentioned.Addressing concerns around the proposal, Taylor said immigration policy “is not about any particular race or religion”.

“Our focus is on bringing people to this country who believe in our values, who come here because they know this is the greatest nation on earth,” he told Sky News Agenda.

“If they reject our focus on democracy… our basic freedoms, freedom of speech, freedom of religion — if they reject those things, the door must be shut.”

Immigration has become a key political flashpoint following the Bondi Beach terror attack, with support rising for the hard-line immigration stance of One Nation.

Taylor also called for intelligence agencies to play a greater role in vetting prospective migrants to ensure they do not bring “hate and violence” into the country.

Nationals leader David Littleproud backed the proposal, describing it as “common sense” and a return to Australian values, the report said.

Taylor said it was important to “show respect” to voters supporting One Nation and that the Liberal Party aimed to present itself as a stronger governing alternative. “They are making their decisions for a reason and we have to convince them that we are a better alternative, a party coalition of government that can serve them better,” he told Sky News.