‘Debased himself’ and risking Australia’s reputation: Liberals torn up about Taylor’s Trumpian immigration plan

Angus Taylor has argued that people ‘migrating from places ruled by fundamentalists, extremists and dictators’ are less likely to subscribe to Australian values. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

Former Howard government minister Amanda Vanstone has warned Angus Taylor against turning immigration into heavy-handed law enforcement, saying most migrants from countries run by dictators and extremists move to Australia to escape authoritarianism.

Releasing the first elements of a new hardline immigration policy on Tuesday, the opposition leader sparked criticism from refugee advocates, Pauline Hanson and even one sitting Liberal MP, who all likened the plans to policies from the US president, Donald Trump.