Photo credit: SBS
A Liberal senator has disagreed with the tone and approach of leader Angus Taylor in the debate over migration, following the Coalition’s promise to slash the number of foreigners entering Australia.
INDAILY reports that South Australian senator Andrew McLachlan argued the framing of Taylor’s plan to link immigration with the number of homes being built each year risked alienating diaspora communities across the country.
However, McLachlan agreed that a legitimate conversation was needed about migration levels to ensure new arrivals received the support they needed.
“It’s about the tone and our approach, because we cannot – you should not – approach migration as a negative,” he told ABC radio on Tuesday.
In his budget reply speech last week, Taylor promised to set Australia’s net overseas migration level at the number of homes completed in the previous year.
“This is about mass migration running ahead of the homes, roads, hospitals, schools and services Australia can provide,” he told parliament.
McLachlan said that language was unnecessary and politically risky.
“I have deep concerns coming from a multicultural community that we are going to create two types of members in the community going forward with this policy suite,” he said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said migrants and permanent residents made an important contribution to the nation and accused the opposition of attempting to win votes back from Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.
