‘Would be a different country’: Burke defends migration as Taylor policy criticism mounts

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke says the Opposition’s new immigration policy won’t make Australians any safer and is designed to “send a message” to One Nation.

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has unveiled part one of the Coalition’s highly anticipated immigration policy during his first major policy speech since taking the top job in February.

Trump-style social media screening and a requirement to learn English are just some of the measures being put forward by the Opposition as part of its proposed mission to “boot out” those who don’t abide by Australian values.

But Burke dismissed the Coalition’s intention to prioritise migrants from liberal democracies, saying it aims to take Australia in the wrong direction.

“This concept that somehow you are more worthy if you come from a liberal democracy, is a view that I have not previously heard a senior Australian politician make,” he said.

“Australia is and always should be a country where we judge you by who you are, not where you’re from.”

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