A leaked draft from Liberal circles outlines a hardline immigration framework, proposing regional bans on migrants from 37 regions across 13 countries tied to terrorist activity, including Gaza, parts of Somalia, the Philippines, and Afghanistan.

The plan also suggests deporting temporary visa holders who breach Australian values, raising questions about enforceability, fairness, and the potential harm to people fleeing persecution.

Guardian Australia reports the policy was developed in Sussan Ley’s office with a Trump-style approach but never went to shadow cabinet for discussion.

Some critics argue the rhetoric contradicts core Australian values like fairness and equality, suggesting policy is driven by expediency rather than social cohesion.

Taylor has framed migration as a core priority, signaling that the party’s immigration rhetoric will become tougher.

As of late January, tens of thousands of visa appeals clog the system, with long finalisation times for protection visa reviews in 2025.

Key Liberal voices, including Scarr, publicly opposed the policy, warning it could harm humanitarian considerations and that the document lacked leadership approval.

Abul Rizvi, a former deputy immigration secretary, is named as the author, signaling a critical, value-centered analysis of immigration policy.

The package also contemplated tightening foreign ownership rules, clearing a large backlog of visa refusals, and raising English and compliance standards for students and education providers.

There are fears the plan would erode Australia’s nondiscriminatory migration framework and erode social cohesion by creating a sense of second-class status among migrants.

Internal Liberal tensions surround the policy, with concerns about impacts on skilled migration and international relationships amid debates on hate-speech laws and leadership.

Proposed measures included turning the Australian Values Statement into a binding condition, tightening social-media vetting under ‘Operation Gatekeeper,’ and increasing security checks.