Angus Taylor’s controversial immigration policy criticized as racist by Paul Keating

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

Key details reported by multiple sources:

• Paul Keating accused Angus Taylor of adopting racist policies and cowardice in a statement on April 17, 2026, calling it a departure from Liberal Party traditions.
• Angus Taylor announced a policy requiring migrants to comply with the Australian Values Statement as a binding visa condition, including tougher vetting and English language requirements for permanent residents.
• Taylor referenced migrants from liberal democracies as more likely to integrate, sparking accusations of targeting Muslim-majority countries.
• Taylor proposed deporting 65,000 visa overstayers if elected, with a focus on asylum seekers and overseas students.
• Taylor cited Palestinian refugees from Gaza as a national security risk, mentioning around 1,500 Gazans arrived in Australia post-October 7, 2023 attacks.
• Taylor acknowledged One Nation’s influence on his policy, stating he aims to regain trust from potential One Nation voters.
• John Winston Howard was present at Taylor’s policy launch, linking Taylor’s approach to Howard’s past anti-immigration stances (e.g., 1988 anti-Asian migration, 2001 Tampa policy).
• Keating compared Taylor’s policy to Pauline Hanson’s ‘dumb bigotry’ and a fantasy of returning Australia to a monoculture.