Liberal senator Andrew McLachlan has publicly criticized his party's tough immigration stance, warning that proposals to restrict welfare to citizens only would create a divided society and are 'not the Australian way'. The backbencher's comments represent a rare break in party ranks, directly challenging opposition leader Angus Taylor's recent policy announcements.
McLachlan's Warning on Two-Tier Society
Speaking on ABC's RN Breakfast, McLachlan expressed deep concerns about the proposed citizen-only welfare policy, which would bar non-citizens, including permanent residents, from accessing jobseeker, age pension, disability support, parenting payments, and the NDIS. '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,' the South Australian senator said. 'If you're both contributing to the wealth of the nation and only one is entitled to certain entitlements, you could have almost a form of a strata-ing of our society. I'm not sure that's the Australian way, or what our communities want.'
Impact on Migrant Communities
McLachlan warned that the Coalition's rhetoric was alienating diaspora communities, which have abandoned the Liberal party in large numbers at recent elections. 'We cannot continue to blame migrants for the problems of our economy,' he said. 'Certainly immigration should be controlled, and we don't want to invite people here without giving them a society that can accommodate them both economically and culturally, but we cannot continue to blame migrants for the problems of our economy.'
Taylor Defends Policy
Opposition leader Angus Taylor brushed off McLachlan's concerns, defending his use of the term 'mass migration' and arguing that it is in the national interest to 'put citizens first'. 'Citizenship matters in this country and we welcome those who commit to citizenship, we will commit to them,' Taylor told reporters. He made immigration a centrepiece of his budget reply speech, promising to dramatically reduce temporary immigration by tying it to housing construction and restricting welfare to citizens.
Internal Party Unease
The policy has caused unease among some Liberal MPs, who believe One Nation's Pauline Hanson is dictating the party's agenda. Migrant groups condemned the policy as 'a dangerous escalation of dog-whistle politics that targets communities of colour'. Democracy in Colour's national director Noura Mansour said, 'We are not in Trump's America.'
Economic and Sectoral Concerns
A parliamentary inquiry into skilled migration heard warnings that slashing intake would cause a crisis in the care sector. Sociologist Leah Williams Veazey from the University of Sydney told a hearing, 'Migrants didn't cause the housing crisis and reducing migration isn't going to solve the housing crisis, but what it will give us is a care crisis. We already have incredible shortages of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and other allied health workers.' The Business Council of Australia also warned that significant cuts could worsen workforce shortages.
Prime Minister's Response
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Taylor's budget reply announcements were focused on 'fighting One Nation'. 'We need to not seek to divide Australians, we need to seek to bring Australians together,' he said.
Warning to Liberals Switching Allegiances
McLachlan also sent a warning to Liberals considering joining One Nation after former colleague Hollie Hughes and former party vice-president Teena McQueen joined Hanson's party. 'You're making a mistake,' he said. 'If you want to share Liberal values, then you shouldn't be looking for a false path and a wide path, which does not contain policy that will advance Australians' lives.'
