Chinese Australians have criticized the Coalition's plan to block future non-citizens from accessing welfare services, comparing the opposition's targeting of migrants to One Nation. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor used his budget reply speech to announce a Coalition government would block non-citizens from 17 welfare programs, including the NDIS.
Critics argue the proposal unfairly targets permanent migrants from China and India, who are forced to give up citizenship in their home country to become Australian citizens. Richard Shi, vice president of the Asian Business Association of Whitehorse in Melbourne, said the proposal was unfair, noting that many Chinese migrants opt for permanent residency because they are not ready to give up their Chinese citizenship.
Vincent Lim, president of Sydney's Haymarket Chamber of Commerce, described the proposal as divisive and potentially harmful to social cohesion. He emphasized that most permanent residents pay taxes and contribute significantly to the country.
Economist Richard Holden said the Coalition's plan to address bracket creep would be more effective at winning over voters than targeting migrants. The Coalition also aims to limit net overseas migration to one person per new home built, cutting the intake to at most 170,000 people a year.
Mr Taylor defended the policy, stating that welfare access should be a privilege of citizenship, and that exemptions would apply in compassionate circumstances. The policy would be grandfathered to apply only to future migrants.
