Taylor says WA will back migration policy despite former PM Paul Keating labelling it ‘racist’

On the eve of his first trip to WA as Liberal leader, Angus Taylor doesn’t believe West Australians will be turned off by an immigration policy Paul Keating has slammed as “racist”.

Mr Taylor, due to arrive on Sunday night ahead of a three-day-visit, said WA had benefited from the right type of migrants.

“There are many people from WA who come from all over the world,” Mr Taylor told The West Australian.

“They love Western Australia and they love Australia.

“They cherish what they get here, that they didn’t get in the countries they came from.

“I’d expect (our immigration policy) to be well received everywhere, including WA.”

Mr Taylor said migrants from Liberal democratic countries were a better fit for Australia.

“If someone wants to come here and overturn our system of government or create a new system of law, or they don’t believe in freedom of religion or freedom of speech, they shouldn’t come,” he said.

The release of the policy sparked a sharp rebuke from Mr Keating.

“The Liberal Party, battling an extreme version of itself, One Nation, has again fallen back to its default political policy - racism,” he said.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke also attacked the Coalition migration policy, saying: “Mr Taylor’s diatribe has nothing to do with the national interest and is entirely about sending a vibe to One Nation.”

Australia already has a mandatory “values test” for migrants, implemented through the Australian Values Statement that most visa applicants must sign, acknowledging they will respect Australian society and its laws.

Since 2020, the citizenship test has included five mandatory questions on Australian values.

Mr Taylor’s party is fighting to maintain his party’s relevance and stem the bleeding of conservative voters to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.

The Liberals’ new leader, who replaced Sussan Ley in February, is hoping to do what Peter Dutton couldn’t - revive support for his party in this State.

Out of 16 federal seats here, the Liberals hold just four. The former conservative stranglehold of Curtin is now held by Independent Kate Chaney.

Whereas the Teal movement encroached on the Liberals’ voter heartland in the 2022 and 2025 elections, it is One Nation that is biting big chunks into its support base throughout the nation presently.

Newspoll in April showed One Nation’s primary vote in WA is now 27 per cent, compared to the Coalition’s 20 per cent.

Mr Taylor would not be drawn on whether the Liberals would do a preference deal with One Nation at the next federal Election in 2028.

“We’re not going to put the cart before the horse,” Mr Taylor said.

“My focus is on regaining the trust of voters.

“I recognise those people who are indicating they might vote for One Nation in the future, a large proportion of them are people who voted for us in the past.

“I have great respect for them and their choices. Ultimately, they have been thinking that way for a reason and we’ve got to change their minds.”

Mr Taylor will address the WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy on Monday as well as meeting with other business and mining groups.

With the Federal Government considering new levy on gas companies, as well as further changes to the Petroleum Resources Rent Tax, Mr Taylor has made his opposition clear.

“We want is more oil and gas right now,” he said.

“We are seeing a run down in oil and gas, particularly oil in this country.

“We need to see more investment in drilling and exploration and extraction. And you don’t get more investment if you impose more taxes.

“We need to make it easier to invest.”