Angus Taylor’s ‘Australian values’ immigration policy is a racist dog whistle |
Liberal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor’s April 14 address to the Robert Menzies Institute — a right-wing think tank — that his party will pursue an “values-based” migration scheme is the latest example of the ruling class’ bid to ramp up racism.
Taylor’s argument is that there is some unique “Australian value”. It is a dog whistle for all those who want to find a scapegoat, other than the government, for the worsening cost-of-living and housing crises.
His proposals include the introduction of “values” as a criterion for visa assessment, an expansion of visa cancellation powers and social media checks for visa applicants.
Taylor is promoting such measures on the basis of improving peoples’ living standards. In reality, he is pandering to the growing support for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation (PHON) to which the Liberals have lost ground.
Disturbingly, he has targeted the 1700 refugees from Gaza as a possible security risk, without a shred of evidence.
Taylor’s call for an immigration policy based on “Australian values” reeks of ethno-nationalism and harks back to the White Australia policy, which limited non-white immigration. This is reflected in his........