A leaked Liberal Party immigration policy would pause visa processing for up to three years for people from regions described as being controlled by terrorist organisations, according to a Herald Sun exclusive.
The document, titled Operation Gatekeeper, outlines a proposal to curtail entry from areas identified as havens for Islamist terrorist groups. News.com.au has confirmed details of the plan, reporting that it would not ban all migrants from Somalia and the Philippines but could temporarily restrict all immigration from Gaza, which was until recently controlled by Hamas.
The policy is understood to be sitting with Liberal leader Angus Taylor and was prepared by opposition home affairs spokesman Jonno Duniam, immigration spokesman Paul Scarr and Sussan Ley’s office.
Mr Taylor has defended a tougher stance on migration, telling Sunrise: “Well, we’re talking about people who don’t accept the most basic beliefs that have made this country successful. And we believe in democracy,’’ he told Sunrise.
“We believe that you need to obey the law. We believe in basic freedoms of speech and religion, and if people don’t accept those things, they shouldn’t come to our country.
The policy is understood to be sitting with Liberal leader Angus Taylor and was prepared by opposition home affairs spokesman Jonno Duniam, immigration spokesman Paul Scarr and Sussan Ley’s office
“The door should be shut.”
Under the draft proposal, migrants on temporary visas could face deportation if they breach what the document describes as “Australian values”.
The leaked blueprint states: “The Coalition would curtail the entry into Australia of people from regions identified as havens for Islamist terrorist organisations,’’ the leaked document states.
It adds that more than 20 listed terrorist organisations are operating in regions where local law enforcement is limited. The document says up to 37 regions across 13 countries, including Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen, could potentially meet the threshold for designation.
News.com.au reports that net overseas migration would be reduced to 170,000 under the policy. The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data, released in December 2025, shows net overseas migration at 305,600 for the 2024–25 financial year.
The proposal comes amid a broader debate over migration levels and border policy. The leaked documents do not detail how designations would be made or reviewed, or how individual cases would be assessed within affected regions.
The Herald Sun first reported the existence of the leaked policy documents.
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