A broad coalition of multicultural, refugee and political voices has sharply criticised the Liberal Party’s proposed immigration overhaul, unveiled by Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, warning it risks fuelling division, discrimination and fear within Australia’s migrant communities.
The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA), the national peak body representing culturally and linguistically diverse communities, issued a strong statement urging political leaders to “unequivocally reject divisive narratives on migration”.
Describing Australia as “at a crossroads”, FECCA said migration has been central to the country’s economic strength, cultural vitality and global connectedness. It warned that policies based on subjective interpretations of “values” could lead to inconsistent decision-making and disproportionately impact certain communities.
“Any approach that introduces vague or subjective interpretations of ‘values’ risks creating uneven scrutiny,” the organisation said, cautioning that such measures could also undermine family reunion pathways and social cohesion.
FECCA rejected claims that migrants from particular regions are less likely to contribute, stating there is “no evidence” to support such assumptions and highlighting the long-standing contributions of migrants from diverse and conflict-affected backgrounds.
The Refugee Council of Australia also condemned the proposal, arguing it fails its own stated “values test”. In a statement, Co-CEO Paul Power said the rhetoric around migrants could leave communities feeling “less safe and more unwelcome” in Australia.
Power warned that claims suggesting migrants do not share Australian values risk emboldening racism and abuse. “Many migrant and refugee community members are reporting that the abuse they are experiencing… is increasing,” he said, adding that such narratives undermine the principle of a “fair go”.
The Council also raised concerns about proposals to reassess Palestinian visa holders and reintroduce Temporary Protection Visas, arguing these measures could unfairly target vulnerable groups and erode humanitarian protections.
Criticism has also come from former Prime Minister Paul Keating, who described the policy as a sign of the Liberal Party’s “moral decline”. In a strongly worded statement, Keating accused the Coalition of reverting to “racism” as a political strategy and abandoning the party’s historical commitment to inclusive national values.
He argued that framing migration in terms of cultural threat and exclusion undermines Australia’s identity as a successful multicultural society and warned against attempts to return to a “monoculture”.
Advocates for asylum seekers have been equally critical. Kon Karapanagiotidis, CEO of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, described the policy as “divisive” and accused the Coalition of scapegoating migrants and refugees for broader economic challenges.
Karapanagiotidis argued the proposals—including expanded surveillance, stricter deportation measures and English language requirements—risk dehumanising migrants while ignoring their economic and social contributions. He also criticised what he described as targeting of Muslim and Palestinian communities, warning it could inflame social tensions.
Greens immigration spokesperson David Shoebridge also condemned the Coalition’s proposal, describing it as “a 2026 version of the White Australia policy” and accusing the party of being “captured by extremists”. He criticised comments targeting Palestinian refugees, saying many who have fled Gaza are “grateful for peace and the chance to rebuild” in Australia. Shoebridge warned that such rhetoric risks demonising vulnerable communities and fuelling division, arguing that multiculturalism remains central to Australia’s strength and identity, and calling for political leadership that “brings out the best in us, not this nastiness and meanness.”
The Coalition’s policy, outlined in Taylor’s address to the Menzies Research Centre, proposes making the Australian Values Statement legally enforceable, tightening visa screening—including social media checks—and creating new mechanisms to deport visa holders who breach conditions.
It also includes plans to reduce migration numbers, introduce a “Safe Country List” to limit asylum claims, and prioritise what Taylor described as migrants who align with “Australian values”.
But critics argue the approach risks undermining the very principles it claims to defend.
FECCA said Australia’s migration system must remain “fair, humane and evidence-based”, warning that policies driven by fear or political expediency could damage the country’s social fabric.
“This is the Australia we must shape together,” the organisation said, “confident in its identity, generous in its outlook, and united in its commitment to equity and inclusion.”
