Opposition leader Angus Taylor has pledged to deport up to 65,000 visa overstayers as part of a sweeping overhaul of Australia’s immigration system, warning that student and asylum pathways are being “exploited”.
In a major policy speech, the Opposition leader outlined a hardline crackdown targeting individuals who remain in Australia despite having their visas cancelled and exhausting all avenues of appeal.
“Our immigration system is being exploited by people using the false pretext of needing protection or study to stay here for economic reasons,” Mr Taylor said. “The Coalition will crack down on overstayers.”
He claimed around 65,000 people were currently in Australia unlawfully after their visas had been cancelled — a figure he said was equivalent to removing the population of regional cities such as Tweed Heads, Rockhampton or Bunbury.
Mr Taylor said a future Coalition government would “oust the overstayers” and use all available resources to ensure compliance, while also moving to restrict access to taxpayer-funded legal aid for non-citizens appealing visa cancellations.
The proposal forms part of a broader migration policy reset, with the Coalition signalling it would restore Temporary Protection Visas, introduce a “safe country” list, and require migrants to sign up to a legally binding “Australian values” statement.
Under the proposed “safe country” framework, asylum claims from nations deemed low-risk or politically stable could be restricted or fast-tracked for rejection. While Mr Taylor has not released a final list, similar international models — such as those used by the European Union — include countries like India, Bangladesh, Morocco and Tunisia as “safe” or non-risk nations. Such a move is expected to be contentious, with critics arguing it may overlook individual persecution claims.
“It’s time to take back control from the technocrats, bureaucrats and activists,” Mr Taylor said.
The Opposition leader also raised concerns about national security, singling out certain refugee cohorts for closer scrutiny. He said migrants from conflict zones, including Gaza, would face stricter assessment processes under a Coalition government.
The comments are likely to spark political and community debate, particularly given Australia’s long-standing non-discriminatory migration framework.
Mr Taylor defended the approach, arguing immigration standards had declined in recent years while intake levels had risen.
“Australia has a proud history of welcoming migrants from across the world,” he said. “But something has changed. Immigration numbers are too high. Immigration standards are too low.”
When asked whether enforcement measures could resemble the United States’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, Mr Taylor said the scale in Australia was far smaller but insisted laws must be enforced.
“If someone has exhausted all legal avenues for protection and is no longer a legal resident in this country, they should go,” he said.
The Coalition’s proposed crackdown comes amid broader political pressure on migration settings, housing affordability and border security, with the policy expected to be a key battleground issue heading into the next federal election.
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