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Opposition Leader Angus Taylor is set to present his revamped front bench, marking a strategic pivot towards right-wing priorities with a spotlight on immigration issues. This shift follows his recent ascension to leadership, toppling Sussan Ley from her historic position as the Liberal Party’s first female leader amidst turbulent party dynamics.
In the initial days post-election, Taylor has concentrated on outlining essential priorities, signaling a new direction for the party. Observers anticipate that his policy initiatives will coincide with the introduction of a reinvigorated front bench. Notably, Andrew Hastie and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who were previously sidelined, are expected to make a comeback.
Expressing confidence in Hastie and Price, Taylor praised them as “magnificent members of our team” on Sunday. Their previous exits from the frontbench were linked to disagreements over migration policies, a topic Taylor seems keen to address head-on.
Although specific details remain scarce, Taylor has committed to implementing a more stringent immigration stance. He has consistently emphasized the need to lower the country’s migrant numbers and enhance the screening process, suggesting a significant policy shift under his leadership.
While offering few details on his party’s approach, Taylor promised to pursue a stricter immigration policy, repeatedly flagging plans to reduce the nation’s migrant intake and tighten screening.
“The (migration) numbers under Labor have been just extraordinary — way beyond what this country can absorb,” he said.
“Standards have been too low, numbers have been too high and we haven’t explicitly shut the door on people who reject our way of life.”
The Hume MP said he would unveil a full policy “in the coming days”.
Taylor has insisted the Coalition is not trying to become “One Nation lite” as it bleeds voter support to the anti-immigration party.
The first poll since Taylor became Liberal leader, published by Nine newspapers on Monday, showed Labor with 32 per cent of the primary vote and One Nation and the Coalition tied on 23 per cent.
The Resolve poll of 1,800 people conducted between 8 February and 14 February found a Taylor-led Coalition three percentage points ahead of an Opposition led by Ley.
One Nation recorded primary support of 27 per cent in the latest Newspoll, conducted before Taylor toppled Ley as leader, with the Coalition on 18 per cent.
Former senior immigration official Abul Rizvi said Taylor’s pointed tough-on-immigration stance could be directly influenced by One Nation’s rise.
“He reads the polls as closely as anybody,” Rizvi said.
However, he noted strong character requirements already existed for migrants looking to enter Australia and they had only been tightened by anti-hate crime laws introduced after the Bondi terror attack.
Taylor and deputy Jane Hume have also repeatedly vowed to offer lower taxes, a renewed focus on housing affordability and the end of an “ideological approach” to energy policies.
Hume said Australia needed to be “open-minded” on nuclear energy if the country was to reduce emissions and make power cheaper.
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