In the immediate aftermath of the devastating Bondi beach terror attack, which left 15 people dead, senior Liberal MP Andrew Hastie has pivoted the national conversation decisively towards immigration, exposing what analysts see as the true agenda of the conservative wing of his party.
From Numbers to 'Who': A Rhetorical Shift
Even before New South Wales police had formally declared the mass shooting at the 'Chanukah by the Sea' celebration a terrorist incident, Hastie took to social media. In a video posted to Facebook and Instagram, viewed almost 1 million times, the former soldier stated he was "angry" and hinted strongly at the motivation, saying, "I'm pretty sure we can guess what's motivated this."
This set the stage for a series of media appearances where his long-running campaign to reduce immigration intake numbers transformed into a sharper argument about the character of migrants. Speaking to Sky News' Andrew Clennell, Hastie abandoned any pretence of a purely numerical grievance.
"The real question is, who are we letting into our country?" Hastie asserted. "I know the Australian people have had a gutful, and I think we need to narrow, very dramatically, those who we let into our country. They need to support Australian values."
Defining 'Australian Values' in the Wake of Tragedy
When pressed on where to draw the line, Hastie avoided naming specific countries but was clear on his criteria. "I want to see people come to this country who speak English, who support Australian values," he repeated. He later elaborated that these values were "fundamentally Judeo-Christian", encompassing equality, the rule of law, and democratic traditions.
This framing was echoed by fellow conservative backbencher Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. In her own widely-shared Facebook video, Price called for bans on the keffiyeh in parliament, pro-Palestine marches, and the cancellation of visas for Gazan refugees, claiming "our nation is changing for the worse."
Their influence is significant. While both sit on the backbench, their social media reach dwarfs that of frontbenchers like Sussan Ley, whose response to Bondi garnered a fraction of the engagement.
Policy Implications and the Coalition's Next Move
The tragedy has accelerated a policy shift already underway within the Coalition. Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonathon Duniam has also emphasised the need for visa holders to comply with "Australian values".
This focus is set to become a formal part of the opposition's platform. Ley was due to release the Coalition's immigration policy principles before the attack, a plan now delayed but certain to resume in the new year. The principles are expected to enshrine the values-based test championed by Hastie and his allies.
Hastie did single out Syrian-born hero Ahmed al-Ahmed, who disarmed the alleged attacker, for praise. However, his overarching message marks a strategic deepening of Australia's immigration debate. As the political discussion resumes, figures like Hastie, Price, and right-wing lobby group Advance will ensure the core question is not merely about volume, but about identity and ideology—a position the Bondi attack has brought into stark relief.
