A proposed migration ban covering 13 countries. A leadership spill. And a shadow minister saying: “I never agreed.”
A leaked Liberal Party immigration proposal to ban migrants from specific regions in 13 countries — including Gaza, Afghanistan and Somalia — has triggered internal backlash, with the party’s former shadow immigration minister distancing himself from the plan.
The proposal, developed before Sussan Ley was removed as Liberal leader, outlined bans affecting 37 regions across Afghanistan, Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Palestine, the Philippines, Somalia and Yemen. The regions were reportedly selected based on areas where designated terrorist organisations hold territorial control.
Guardian Australia reported that the plan was not presented to shadow cabinet before Ley’s leadership loss and that her successor, Angus Taylor, had not reviewed the document.
Former shadow immigration minister Paul Scarr said he had “serious concerns” about such a policy. “I never proposed any such policy. I never agreed to any such policy,” he said, adding that he had raised objections internally.
Beyond regional bans, the draft plan reportedly sought to accelerate the removal of up to 100,000 asylum seekers and international students, restrict appeal rights for visa holders and tighten screening of social media activity to identify extremist views. It also proposed cuts to permanent migration, student visas and net overseas migration.
Taylor, who has made immigration a central issue under his leadership, said Australia must ensure newcomers uphold democratic values and the rule of law. “Numbers have been too high and standards have been too low,” he told reporters.
The federal government has set the permanent migration intake for 2025–26 at 185,000, with net overseas migration projected at 260,000 — already a decline from post-pandemic peaks.
The episode highlights tensions within the Liberal Party over how far to go in reshaping migration policy, as Taylor prepares to unveil a new shadow cabinet in the coming days.
