Scapegoating migrants is designed to distract our attention from the truth and real issues – the abuse of corporate and media power and failure to tackle housing shortages for younger generations.

The Liberal Party looks like following the rot that set in with John Howard – Tampa and dog whistling about Asian migration. But this time the Liberal Party might be kicking an own goal because of the electoral clout of our migrant communities.

The warning signs for the Liberals are clear. It has offended voters with Chinese and Indian backgrounds. It paid the electoral consequences at the last two federal elections.

Angus Taylor says that in migration matters he will focus on “Australian values… protecting the Australian way of life”. Whatever that is. He says that “immigration standards have been too low”.

Who does he have in mind? Muslims, where we keep blaming all Muslims for crimes of individuals. Do we blame all Italian Catholics for the mafia?

Taylor is harking back to the Australia of 50 years ago. Modern Australia is now very different with 32 per cent of our population born overseas and about half of our population being either born overseas or had at least one parent born overseas

There have been major surges in migrants from China and India. Political parties will ignore these new demographics at their peril.

Australia-Chinese voters

The “China threat” highlighted by the Liberal Party has caused concern amongst Chinese voters. Senator James Paterson has been particularly active on this. Peter Dutton was very vocal on Chinese naval ships circumventing Australia. There have been trade disputes with China which the Liberal Party has sought to exploit. At the last election Senator Hume warned us about “Chinese spies”. She followed with a dissembling apology making her offence even worse.

Not surprising all this antagonised many Chinese who are small business people with strong family ties and usually voted for the Liberal Party.

But not now. In the 2022 election at least five seats with significant Chinese voters, including Reid, Chisholm, Bennelong and Tangney, tipped the result to the ALP. Without those extra seats the Albanese government would not have had a........

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