Dutton, Australia`s interior minister, has proposed a cut in immigration (photo by the Australian newspaper)
Peter Dutton, Australia`s interior minister, secretly proposed a 20, 000-a-year cut in immigration quotas last year, which was opposed by Prime Minister Tam Po (Malcolm Turnbull) and Finance Minister credit Mok Suisse (Scott Morrison).
Australian Interior Secretary Dutton last year proposed a reduction in the annual quota of one hundred and ninety thousand permanent immigrants to one hundred and seventy thousand on grounds of public concern about immigration rates, the Australian newspaper reported. The then deputy prime minister, Joyce (Barnaby Joyce), expressed support for Dutton`s proposal, but both the prime minister and the finance minister opposed it.
It is reported that in 2016-17, Australia issued a total of one hundred and eighty three thousand five hundred and ninety nine permanent resident visas, 6400 fewer than the previous year. Among them, more than one hundred and twenty three thousand four hundred and ninety nine visas for skilled immigrants and more than 56,200 visas for family reunification immigrants.
Compared with former Australian Prime Minister Albert (Tony Abbott), Dutton`s immigration adjustment proposals are not radical. In February, Albert called for a reduction in Australia`s annual immigration quota to 110000.
Dutton`s spokesman yesterday declined to respond to immigration cuts. Dutton, speaking on the social networking site Twitter this morning, did not deny that he had tried to push for a cut in immigration quotas, but said he supported the government`s current policy stance.
Denton said: "A few weeks ago, I have made clear statements to support the current immigration policy. The Prime Minister and I have repeatedly reiterated that the Australian immigration policy is expanding around the national interest and maintaining the same proportion of technology and non-technical migrants, consistent with the previous policy of the Alliance."
Dutton`s proposal to cut immigration quotas has been refuted, reflecting the coalition`s efforts to create political momentum amid continuing public concerns about economic growth and the development of major cities. In addition, the coalition is also trying to quench calls for immigration cuts from minority parties such as the one-nation party.
Dutton denied that his proposal was intended to collide with Tembo`s leadership, promising loyalty to Tan Bao.
Mr Tan`s coalition party has lost to Labour 30 times in a row in the Newspoll. At that time, Tan Bao once used the same defeat to force Albert to step down. However, a number of senior ministers yesterday have spoken in support of Tan Bao. Joyce, on the other hand, "disrupted the formation," saying Mr Tan should resign if the Soyuz party still lags behind this Christmas.
