Coalition Proposes Social Media Checks for All Visa Seekers

The Coalition has unveiled a sweeping immigration policy that would require all visa applicants, including tourists, to submit their social media profiles for government vetting. The plan, modeled on a rule enacted under former U.S. President Donald Trump, forms part of a broader push to tighten Australia's borders.

In a speech to be delivered Tuesday night, Opposition spokesperson Angus Taylor will argue that Australia has been too naive, allowing entry to people with "subversive intent." He pledges new funding for agencies to find and deport non-citizens who have exhausted legal appeals.

The policy goes further than previous drafts. It calls for the re-assessment of over 2,000 Palestinians granted visas after the October 7 attacks, despite existing security checks. Taylor claims this group, coming from a Hamas-run society, presents a "clear risk."

A new "Australian values statement" would become a legally binding contract for visa holders. Breaching its principles—which include respect for law, tolerance, and the status of English—could lead to removal. The Coalition also plans a "safe country list" to quickly refuse asylum claims from nations like the UK, and would restore temporary protection visas scrapped by Labor.

Taylor frames the approach as necessary to discriminate based on values, blaming some migrants for community division. While appealing to some conservative voters, the stance risks further distancing the Coalition from multicultural electorates it has lost. More policy details are expected in the coming weeks.