The Australian immigration debate is shifting into dangerous territory, as the Coalition pushes a so-called “values-based” migration system that includes social media surveillance and ideological vetting, signalling a broader move towards right-wing populism, culture wars politics and the Trumpification of Australian politics. In this episode, we break down how Angus Taylor and the Liberal Party are abandoning traditional economic management in favour of identity politics, nationalism and divisive rhetoric around immigration, migrants and national values, despite these strategies being rejected at the 2025 federal election. We examine how this approach mirrors global trends in conservative politics, from Donald Trump in the United States to Reform UK and Viktor Orbán in Hungary, where fear-based messaging around immigration, multiculturalism and national identity is used to mobilise support but often fails to deliver real political success.
We also explore how Australia already has a de facto values-based immigration system, and why proposals to monitor migrants’ social media raise serious concerns about civil liberties, surveillance, political bias and freedom of expression. There’s also contradictions in Liberal Party messaging on “Australian values” like fairness, equality and the rule of law, and questions who gets to define these values in a multicultural democracy. This is a political strategy of targeting Muslim communities, pro-Palestinian voices and migrants from non-European backgrounds, including the dog-whistle politics around English language requirements and cultural integration.
With analysis of recent election results, including the South Australian election where the Liberal Party fell behind Labor and One Nation, we assess whether attempts to outflank Pauline Hanson and One Nation on immigration will only legitimise fringe politics and further splinter the conservative vote.
Ultimately, voters are increasingly rejecting fear-driven politics and culture war distractions, demanding instead real solutions to complex economic and social challenges. As global examples show, from the declining appeal of Trump-style politics to electoral shifts in Europe, the strategy of copying fringe movements may not only fail but accelerate political decline. For the Liberal Party, the message is clear: solve problems, don’t create them – or risk becoming irrelevant in a rapidly changing political landscape.
