It’s clear. Australia needs to cut migration – that’s the message from The Nationals’ Member for Mallee, Dr Anne Webster MP, endorsing the Coalition’s continued strong stance on putting Australians first.

“Albanese Labor has brought in 1.4 million people in just 3 ½ years and many Australians fear the country is heading towards the same out-of-control immigration path as Britain and Europe,” Dr Webster said.

“We need to put Australians first and unapologetically defend Australian values. Excess immigration has added extreme pressure to the housing market, to infrastructure and to essential services. Albanese Labor hasn’t improved the economy, they’ve flooded it with population growth largely driven by immigration.”

Dr Webster said The Nationals want Australia to once again be land of opportunity, aspiration, freedom and safety, with affordable housing, a fair go, strength and unity.

“Under Labor, standards have slipped, numbers have surged, and Australians are feeling the pressure.  The Coalition  will restore integrity to the system, lowering numbers, lifting standards, and making sure migration serves Australia’s national interest again,” Dr Webster said.

“Our immigration system is being exploited by people using the false pretext of needing protection or study to stay here for economic reasons. The Coalition will crack down on overstayers, and give greater priority to those that migrate from liberal democracies who are far more likely to accept Australian values, compared to migrants from places ruled by fundamentalists, extremists, and dictators.” 

The Coalition’s immigration policies include:

·         Enshrining an Australian Values Statement as a binding visa condition.

·         Restoring Temporary Protection Visas,

·         Establishing a Safe Country List and

·          removing incentives for unfounded asylum claims; and

·         Issuing a ‘red light to radicals’ by strengthening national security screening including a new Enhanced Screening Coordination Centre with intelligence, screening and enforcement capabilities, which will

o   screen out terrorist sympathisers and security risks before they come to Australia

o   require visa applicants to submit their social media account details

Dr Webster noted strong local support from her most recent Mallee’s Biggest Survey for the changes, with two-thirds rating Australia’s immigration level as too high, and a further 17 per cent saying Australia’s immigration policies were not appropriately targeted.

“I am once again proud to stand for the Mallee community who have been very clear on their views on immigration, which are matched by The Nationals who, in Coalition, have the experience and capability as a party of government to act upon their concerns,” Dr Webster said.