Politics

Immigration debate: The next big election issue heats up

Apr 16, 2018

Peter Dutton and Tony Abbott have tough stances on immigration. Source: Getty.

Tony Abbott has made no secret of his support for Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, amid his ongoing calls for a cut to Australia’s migrant intake. But now it’s prompted debate over the importance of immigration for the Liberal Party leadership as a whole – and whether it could prove a threat to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Dutton hit back at reports he called for a cut to Australia’s migrant intake last year, after it was claimed his plea was shot down by Turnbull – and he’s insisted he now “supports” the Coalition’s stance on immigration. However, while Dutton distanced himself from the issue, former prime minister Tony Abbott has continued in his push to cut to the overall intake.

The pairs’ close bond on the issue has forced Abbott to deny he and Dutton are “plotting” against the PM, telling 2GB radio: “I admire (Peter) as a bloke and I respect him as a politician so I guess we would naturally be inclined to think along similar lines … So it doesn’t surprise me that Peter has been pushing for a reduction in the migration intake.”

Asked if that meant they had been secretly formulating a plan to take over the Liberal leadership, Abbott responded: “No that’s not how it works in this business. Peter is an honourable man and the last thing that he would do is sit down with a colleague and plot stuff.”

Either way, Abbott’s support of Dutton has led to an important question: Will immigration become a political decider in the next election? And if so, could it also be a decider for the Liberal leadership?

Dutton has made no secret of his political ambitions and his desire to be prime minister one day. While taking a stance on immigration can be risky business — often accompanied with accusations of racism — Dutton has jumped on the front foot and essentially told the public, you may not like me, but at least you know what I stand for.

He’s joined by a small group of politicians who are making immigration a big issue, including Abbott and smaller parties, such as, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.

Despite all the talk, a 2016 survey found that Australians held mixed views on the subject of immigration with only 4 per cent naming it as the single most important issue in the lead up to the issue. That put it behind Medicare and education, but slightly higher than taxation. However, when asked about the importance of immigration in general, 46 per cent of respondents said immigration was “extremely important”.

Those figures may have changed in recent years, with Hanson’s re-election once again bringing immigration to the fore in mainstream media and former immigration minister Scott Morrison — and his successor Dutton — cracking down hard on asylum seekers trying to illegally enter the country.

The latest immigration issue to make headlines is Dutton’s plight for white South African farmers, who he claims are being “persecuted” in their own country.

The South African government has denied there’s any truth to the claim, and many Australian voters branded “racist” for apparently prioritising white migrants over muslim and Middle-Eastern migrants. It led Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to write to South Africa to clarify Australia’s stance on the issue and deny there was interest in taking on a selection of farmers and their families. However, refusing to back down under pressure, Dutton stuck to his guns.

Now, Citizenship Minister Alan Tudge has confirmed Australia is likely to take in a number of farmers who applied using the humanitarian program. According to Sky News, he said they are “facing persecution” at home and will suffer if not welcomed to Australia.

It looks like the issue of immigration isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.