Mike Freelander (Macarthur, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. How is the Albanese Labor government reforming our migration system? How does this compare to other approaches to migration?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Macarthur both for the incredible work he does in south-west Sydney and also the work he does for every one of his constituents, no matter where they come from.

In Australia we've seen net overseas migration fall to 45 per cent below where it peaked, and those opposite seem reluctant to acknowledge that, when the peak occurred, every single one of the settings were the settings they had left in place when the peak occurred. With the reduction of 45 per cent in net overseas migration, the largest part of the growth we had to deal with was in student visas. When we brought forward legislation not only to be able to cap the number of student visas but also to be able to link the number of student visas to student accommodation—link it directly to housing—what did those opposite do? They opposed the legislation. We also, in the budget, have flagged further changes we'll be making with respect to working holiday-makers. For those opposite, it was the National Party, before the election, that said they would be opposed to any changes to reducing the number of working holiday-makers.

In the budget reply speech, the Leader of the Opposition took a step that I haven't seen a political leader take in this place before. A lot's been made of what he said about permanent residents but there's one permanent resident he seems to like, in that Senator Pauline Hanson is a permanent resident inside his head, living rent free. He introduced a new argument that I've not seen before from any leader in this parliament, and that was to claim that, somehow, you will be more worthy as an Australian if you come from a liberal democracy. Somehow, you will be more worthy based on where you're from.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm going to invite the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw that statement.

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Leader of the Opposition. We will continue with the Leader of the House.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A claim that you would be more worthy to be an Australian based on where you're from, not who you are. I remind the Leader of the Opposition of some of the people who've come to this nation who are not from liberal democracies. He wanted to refer to the Snowy River Scheme. I'd remind him that the number of people who came post World War II who had been living in fascist Europe, not in a liberal democracy. There are number of people who've come from the former USSR, including Australia's proud Ukrainian community, who had not come from a liberal democracy. There are members of Australia's Chinese communities who, ever since the days of the gold rush, have been coming and building this country—and not coming from a liberal democracy. The Vietnamese community are not from a liberal democracy. We love Australia for the nation that we are, not a warped idea turning people against each other.