Abbott Urges New Coalition Leader Taylor to Resist ‘One Nation-lite’ Shift, Focus on Immigration
The newly appointed leader of the Australian Liberal-National Coalition, Angus Taylor, faces a critical challenge: charting a course that distinguishes his party from both the governing Labor Party and the rising influence of One Nation, while simultaneously strengthening its stance on immigration. This comes as former Liberal Prime Minister Tony Abbott implores Taylor to avoid becoming a diluted version of Pauline Hanson’s party.
The leadership change followed a Friday morning partyroom vote where Taylor secured 34 votes to 17, prompting Sussan Ley to announce her impending departure from parliament. Polling data preceding the spill indicated the Coalition was trailing not only Labor but also One Nation in public support.
Abbott has publicly backed Taylor’s ascension, but cautioned against adopting policies mirroring those of One Nation, particularly with the recent addition of former National Party leader Barnaby Joyce to its ranks. “I think it’s a quite different One Nation today than it was in the late 1990s,” Abbott told the 7.30 program. “I think that Pauline Hanson is a much mellower person now than she was then.” He emphasized a clear distinction, stating, “The Liberal Party should not be Labor-lite. We should not be teal-lite. We should not be One Nation-lite. We should be strongly liberal, the Liberal Party of Menzies and Howard.”
Immigration as a Defining Issue
The issue of immigration has quickly emerged as a key battleground. Senator Hanson has asserted that no other party will prioritize immigration policy as strongly as hers. However, Taylor addressed the issue head-on in his first press conference as leader.
“Our borders have been opened to people who hate our way of life, people who don’t want to embrace Australia and want Australia to change for them,” Taylor stated. “As Australians we’re less free. It shouldn’t be this way… if someone doesn’t subscribe to our core beliefs, the door must be shut.”
Abbott, who successfully campaigned on a “stop the boats” platform in 2013 – a policy later adopted by former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in 2024 – believes Taylor must take decisive action. He advocates for a significant shift in immigration policy, prioritizing reduced numbers and a stronger emphasis on “Australian values.”
“I want the Liberal Party to have the best possible immigration policy and that will mean smaller numbers and it will also mean a much bigger emphasis on Australian values,” Abbott said. He further argued for prioritizing national unity over diversity, advocating for the encouragement of national pride and respect for national symbols.
Calls for Reduced Migration Numbers
Recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates a decrease in net migration to 306,000 in 2024-25, down from 429,000 the previous year. However, Abbott believes further reductions are necessary. He proposed a return to the average annual intake of 100,000 seen during the Howard years, contrasting it with the recent average of nearly half a million.
“In the last few years, it’s averaged close to half a million, that’s far too many,” Abbott asserted. “It’s put downward pressure on wages, upward pressure on housing costs, massive strain on infrastructure, and there have been issues with social cohesion.” These concerns echo those raised by Taylor, though Abbott noted they had not yet discussed the matter directly.
Defining Australian Values and Identity
Abbott’s vision of Australia extends to a specific cultural identity. He described Australia’s character as “essentially Anglo-Celtic and Judaeo-Christian,” arguing that this heritage is a key factor in the country’s appeal to migrants. He expressed concerns about the direction of multiculturalism and advocated for a return to assimilationist policies reminiscent of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, where integration was expected from day one.
When questioned about potentially limiting immigration from predominantly Muslim countries, Abbott emphasized the importance of shared values. “I certainly think that we ought to make it crystal clear that everyone coming to Australia as a long-term resident has got to accept Australian values,” he said. He acknowledged that many Muslims embrace Australian values, but cautioned against accepting individuals “deeply committed to a caliphate, if you are deeply committed to Sharia law, if on the other hand you are deeply committed to the leading role of the Communist Party of China.”
Coalition MP Dan Tehan, when asked about Abbott’s views, offered a cautious response, stating that policy direction would ultimately be determined by the parliamentary party under Taylor’s leadership. “We always get plenty of free advice in politics, but ultimately in the end, the people who set the policy agenda are the parliamentary party,” Tehan said. “It’ll be Angus as the leader who will set the direction of our immigration policy.”
Keep reading
