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Australia debates removing welfare from non-citizens as Liberal Party splits over policy impact on migrant communities
The Australian government's plan to remove welfare payments from non-citizens has created a split within the Liberal Party. Former frontbencher Alex Hawke hopes the policy will become more targeted, while others warn it is creating significant issues in Indian and Chinese communities across Australia.
The Australian government's plan to take welfare payments away from non-citizens has created a significant rift within the Liberal Party, with senior figures expressing concern about its impact on migrant communities. The policy has become one of the most contentious domestic debates in Australian politics.
Former frontbencher Alex Hawke has said he hopes the plan will develop into something more positive and targeted rather than broadly affecting working migrants. His comments highlight divisions within the coalition, with some members uncomfortable about the policy's reach and its messaging.
Andrew McLaughlin, speaking to ABC News, expressed serious concerns that the policy is creating significant issues in the Indian and Chinese communities across Australia. These are among the largest migrant groups in the country and contribute substantially to the workforce and economy.
The government has defended the policy by stating that it would encourage permanent residents to become citizens. At the end of the day, we would love anyone who is a permanent resident here to become a citizen, a government spokesperson said. However, critics argue that the sensitive debates around immigration can easily go off the rails when taken out of context.
The welfare debate comes alongside the controversial return of ISIS-linked women and children from Syria, with the government facing questions about the estimated two million dollars per year cost of monitoring each returnee. Together, these issues have placed immigration and citizenship policy at the centre of Australian political discourse.