Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs Julian Hill MP has criticised the Liberal Party for spreading fear and misinformation about migration, calling for a national debate grounded in “facts not fiction” as he addressed the National Migration Conference in Melbourne on Friday.
Speaking to members of the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA), Hill accused “most of the Liberal Party, including some who are regurgitating extremist and racist talking points” of misleading the public with claims that Australia is experiencing mass migration. He said these claims have even ensnared “many decent people…sucked in by misinformation.” Hill was clear:
“Australia does not have or suffer from mass migration.”
Hill used the conference as a platform to underline the critical role migration plays in Australia’s economy and society. He pointed to international students, skilled migrants, working holiday makers, and humanitarian entrants as vital contributors to the workforce, regional economies, and the nation’s global competitiveness. “The global war for top talent continues,” he said, noting that Australia’s population is ageing and that many sectors, from agriculture to hospitality, rely on temporary and skilled migrant labour.
The assistant minister also highlighted recent milestones, including the upcoming arrival of the one millionth humanitarian migrant since World War II, the 80th anniversary of Australia’s first Department of Immigration, and the 50th anniversary of the Whitlam Government’s Racial Discrimination Act — a landmark reform ending the remnants of the White Australia Policy. Hill said these anniversaries underscored migration’s central role in shaping modern, multicultural Australia.
Hill directly addressed the political context, pointing to anti-immigration marches held in August that drew tens of thousands of participants. While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had expressed concern that neo-Nazis exploited the events, Hill acknowledged that “good people” also attended to express their views. He argued that the marches had stoked anxiety in parts of Australia’s multicultural society, but stressed that the country’s migration system is orderly and tightly regulated.
The assistant minister did not hold back in his criticism of the Liberal Party, which he described as being “terrified yet cuddling up to One Nation, calling for ‘massive’ cuts to migration, but never saying how or where that should occur. Pauline Hanson now lives rent-free inside their heads.” Hill argued that the party’s obsession with Net Overseas Migration (NOM) and immigration “Big Scary Numbers” was recent, politically motivated, and not reflective of reality.
Hill also highlighted internal divisions within the Coalition over migration policy. While Senator Paul Scarr, the Coalition’s immigration spokesman, has pushed back against the narrative of mass migration, other senior Liberals, including Andrew Hastie and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, have advocated for more hardline stances, fueling public confusion and internal conflict.
Hill warned that such populist shifts mirrored trends in the UK and US, where moderate voices have been drowned out by anti-immigration rhetoric. “The problem is that the Liberal Party of today is not the Liberal Party of old,” Hill said.
“It’s not just a few extremists or populists — Hastie, Price and their cabal blowing the dog whistle now: the Liberals are all taking the coward’s route.”
Hill also used the conference to outline the Albanese government’s achievements in migration policy, including the introduction of the National Innovation and Skills in Demand visas, Pacific engagement visas, and reforms to prevent migrant worker exploitation. He emphasised the importance of skilled migration in sustaining regional economies and supporting industries such as health, education, and hospitality.
The assistant minister praised migration agents for their work in navigating the complex visa system, while also cautioning against unscrupulous operators exploiting vulnerable applicants.
Hill confirmed that the government has increased inspectors and launched multi-agency efforts to crack down on scam agents, warning that practices amounting to modern slavery would not be tolerated.
“Migration has been and will continue to be a mighty player in building Australia’s wealth and prosperity,” Hill said.
“Migration has also dramatically shaped our identity and will continue to bring families together, to build a life in Australia. Migration is life and nation changing. Your work is important work to the people whose lives you touch and to our country.”
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